Diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases associated with neuropeptide ff receptor 2 (npff2)

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a human NPFF2 which is associated with the hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders. The invention also provides assays for the identification of compounds useful in the treatment or prevention of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders. The invention also features compounds which bind to and/or activate or inhibit the activity of NPFF2 as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of molecular biology, more particularly, the present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences of a human NPFF2 and its regulation for the treatment of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in mammals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

G Protein Coupled Receptors

NPFF2 is a seven transmembrane G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) [U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,246, Bonini et al. (2000), Allard et al. (1994)]. Many medically significant biological processes are mediated by signal transduction pathways that involve G-proteins [Lefkowitz, (1991)]. The family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) includes receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, and viruses. Specific examples of GPCRs include receptors for such diverse agents as dopamine, calcitonine, adrenergic hormones, endotheline, cAMP, adenosine, acetylcholine, serotonine, histamine, thrombin, kinine, follicle stimulating hormone, opsins, endothelial differentiation gene-1, rhodopsins, odorants, cytomegaloviru, G-proteins themselves, effector proteins such as phospholipase C, adenyl cyclase, and phosphodiesterase, and actuator proteins such as protein kinase A and protein kinase C.

GPCRs possess seven conserved membrane-spanning domains connecting at least eight divergent hydrophilic loops. GPCRs, also known as seven transmembrane, 7TM, receptors, have been characterized as including these seven conserved hydrophobic stretches of about 20 to 30 amino acids, connecting at least eight divergent hydrophilic loops. Most GPCRs have single conserved cysteine residues in each of the first two extracellular loops, which form disulfide bonds that are believed to stabilize functional protein structure. The seven transmembrane regions are designated as TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4, TM5, TM6, and TM7. TM3 is being implicated with signal transduction. Phosphorylation and lipidation (palmitylation or farnesylation) of cysteine residues can influence signal transduction of some GPCRs. Most GPCRs contain potential phosphorylation sites within the third cytoplasmic loop and/or the carboxy terminus. For several GPCRs, such as the beta-adrenergic receptor, phosphorylation by protein kinase A and/or specific receptor kinases mediates receptor desensitization.

For some receptors, the ligand binding sites of GPCRs are believed to comprise hydrophilic sockets formed by several GPCR. transmembrane domains. The hydrophilic sockets are surrounded by hydrophobic residues of the GPCRs. The hydrophilic side of each GPCR transmembrane helix is postulated to face inward and form a polar ligand binding site. TM3 is being implicated with several GPCRs as having a ligand binding site, such as the TM3 aspartate residue. TM5 serines, a TM6 asparagine, and TM6 or TM7 phenylalanines or tyrosines also are implicated in ligand binding.

GPCRs are coupled inside the cell by heterotrinmeric G-proteins to various intra-cellular enzymes, ion channels, and transporters. Different G-protein alpha-subunits preferentially stimulate particular effectors to modulate various biological functions in a cell. Phosphorylation of cytoplasmic residues of GPCRs is an important mechanism for the regulation of some GPCRs. For example, in one form of signal transduction, the effect of hormone binding is the activation of the enzyme, adenylate cyclase, inside the cell. Enzyme activation by hormones is dependent on the presence of the nucleotide GTP. GTP also influences hormone binding. A G-protein connects the hormone receptor to adenylate cyclase. G-protein exchanges GTP for bound GDP when activated by a hormone receptor. The GTP-carrying form then binds to activated adenylate cyclase. Hydrolysis of GTP to GDP, catalyzed by the G-protein itself, returns the G-protein to its basal, inactive form. Thus, the G-protein serves a dual role, as an intermediate that relays the signal from receptor to effector, and as a clock that controls the duration of the signal.

Over the past 15 years, nearly 350 therapeutic agents targeting 7TM receptors have been successfully introduced into the market. This indicates that these receptors have an established, proven history as therapeutic targets. Clearly, there is a need for identification and characterization of further receptors which can play a role in preventing, ameliorating, or correcting dysfunctions or diseases including, but not limited to, infections such as bacterial, fungal, protozoan, and viral infections, particularly those caused by HIV viruses, cancers, allergies including asthma; cardiovascular diseases including acute heart failure, hypotension, hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, haematological diseases, genito-diseases including urinary incontinence and benign prostate hyperplasia, osteoporosis, and peripheral and central nervous system disorders including pain, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

TaqMan-Technology/Expression Profiling

TaqMan is a recently developed technique, in which the release of a fluorescent reporter dye from a hybridisation probe in real-time during a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is proportional to the accumulation of the PCR product. Quantification is based on the early, linear part of the reaction, and by determining the threshold cycle (CT), at which fluorescence above background is first detected.

Gene expression technologies may be useful in several areas of drug discovery and development, such as target identification, lead optimization, and identification of mechanisms of action. The TaqMan technology can be used to compare differences between expression profiles of normal tissue and diseased tissue. Expression profiling has been used in identifying genes, which are up- or downregulated in a variety of diseases. An interesting application of expression profiling is temporal monitoring of changes in gene expression during disease progression and drug treatment or in patients versus healthy individuals. The premise in this approach is that changes in pattern of gene expression in response to physiological or environmental stimuli (e.g., drugs) may serve as indirect clues about disease-causing genes or drug targets. Moreover, the effects of drugs with established efficacy on global gene expression patterns may provide a guidepost, or a genetic signature, against which a new drug candidate can be compared.

NPFF2

The nucleotide sequence of NPFF receptor 2 is accessible in public databases by the accession number NM_(—)004885 and is given in SEQ ID NO:1. The amino acid sequence of NPFF2 is depicted in SEQ ID NO:2. NPFF2 is described as a receptor for neuropeptide FF [Bonini et al., (2000)]. The NPFF Receptor 2 is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,246. The expression of NPFF2 in the spinal sensory system was described before [Allard et al. (1994)].

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to novel disease associations of NPFF2 polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention also relates to novel methods of screening for therapeutic agents for the treatment of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a NPFF2 polypeptide, a NPFF2 pblynucleotide, or regulators of NPFF2 or modulators of NPFF2 activity. The invention further comprises methods of diagnosing hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the nucleotide sequence of a NPFF2 receptor polynucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 1).

FIG. 2 shows the amino acid sequence of a NPFF2 receptor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 2).

FIG. 3 shows the nucleotide sequence of a primer useful for the invention (SEQ ID NO: 3).

FIG. 4 shows the nucleotide sequence of a primer useful for the invention (SEQ ID NO: 4).

FIG. 5 shows a nucleotide sequence useful as a probe to detect proteins of the invention (SEQ ID NO: 5).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definition of Terms

An “oligonucleotide” is a stretch of nucleotide residues which has a sufficient number of bases to be used as an oligomer, amplimer or probe in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotides are prepared from genomic or cDNA sequence and are used to amplify, reveal, or confirm the presence of a similar DNA or RNA in a particular cell or tissue. Oligonucleotides or oligomers comprise portions of a DNA sequence having at least about 10 nucleotides and as many as about 35 nucleotides, preferably about 25 nucleotides.

“Probes” may be derived from naturally occurring or recombinant single- or double-stranded nucleic acids or may be chemically synthesized. They are useful in detecting the presence of identical or similar sequences. Such probes may be labeled with reporter molecules using nick translation, Klenow fill-in reaction, PCR or other methods well known in the art. Nucleic acid probes may be used in southern, northern or in situ hybridizations to determine whether DNA or RNA encoding a certain protein is present in a cell type, tissue, or organ.

A “fragment of a polynucleotide” is a nucleic acid that comprises all or any part of a given nucleotide molecule, the fragment having fewer nucleotides than about 6 kb, preferably fewer than about 1 kb.

“Reporter molecules” are radionuclides, enzymes, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or chromogenic agents which associate with a particular nucleotide or amino acid sequence, thereby establishing the presence of a certain sequence, or allowing for the quantification of a certain sequence.

“Chimeric” molecules may be constructed by introducing all or part of the nucleotide sequence of this invention into a vector containing additional nucleic acid sequence which might be expected to change any one or several of the following NPFF2 characteristics: cellular location, distribution, ligand-binding affinities, interchain affinities, degradation/turnover rate, signaling, etc.

“Active”, with respect to a NPFF2 polypeptide, refers to those forms, fragments, or domains of a NPFF2 polypeptide which retain the biological and/or antigenic activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide.

“Naturally occurring NPFF2 polypeptide” refers to a polypeptide produced by cells which have not been genetically engineered and specifically contemplates various polypeptides arising from post-translational modifications of the polypeptide including but not limited to acetylation, carboxylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation and acylation.

“Derivative” refers to polypeptides which have been chemically modified by techniques such as ubiquitination, labeling (see above), pegylation (derivatization with polyethylene glycol), and chemical insertion or substitution of amino acids such as ornithine which do not normally occur in human proteins.

“Conservative amino acid substitutions” result from replacing one amino acid with another having similar structural and/or chemical properties, such as the replacement of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, or a threonine with a serine.

“Insertions” or “deletions” are typically in the range of about 1 to 5 amino acids. The variation allowed may be experimentally determined by producing the peptide synthetically while systematically making insertions, deletions, or substitutions of nucleotides in the sequence using recombinant DNA techniques.

A “signal sequence” or “leader sequence” can be used, when desired, to direct the polypeptide through a membrane of a cell. Such a sequence may be naturally present on the polypeptides of the present invention or provided from heterologous sources by recombinant DNA techniques.

An “oligopeptide” is a short stretch of amino acid residues and may be expressed from an oligonucleotide. Oligopeptides comprise a stretch of amino acid residues of at least 3, 5, 10 amino acids and at most 10, 15, 25 amino acids, typically of at least 9 to 13 amino acids, and of sufficient length to display biological and/or antigenic activity.

“Inhibitor” is any substance which retards or prevents a chemical or physiological reaction or response. Common inhibitors include but are not limited to antisense molecules, antibodies, and antagonists.

“Standard expression” is a quantitative or qualitative measurement for comparison. It is based on a statistically appropriate number of normal samples and is created to use as a basis of comparison when performing diagnostic assays, ruining clinical trials, or following patient treatment profiles.

“Animal” as used herein may be defined to include human, domestic (e.g., cats, dogs, etc.), agricultural (e.g., cows, horses, sheep, etc.) or test species (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, etc.).

A “NPFF2 polynucleotide”, within the meaning of the invention, shall be understood as being a nucleic acid molecule selected from a group consisting of

-   -   (i) nucleic acid molecules encoding a polypeptide comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2,     -   (ii) nucleic acid molecules comprising the sequence of SEQ ID         NO: 1,     -   (iii) nucleic acid molecules having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:         1,     -   (iv) nucleic acid molecules the complementary strand of which         hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule         of (i), (ii), or (iii); and     -   (v) nucleic acid molecules the sequence of which differs from         the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of (iii) due to the         degeneracy of the genetic code;         wherein the polypeptide encoded by said nucleic acid molecule         has NPFF2 activity.

A “NPFF2 polypeptide”, within the meaning of the invention, shall be understood as being a polypeptide selected from a group consisting of

-   -   (i) polypeptides having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2,     -   (ii) polypeptides comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2,     -   (iii) polypeptides encoded by NPFF2 polynucleotides; and     -   (iv) polypeptides which show at least 99%, 98%, 95%, 90%, or 80%         homology with a polypeptide of (i), (ii), or (iii);         wherein said polypeptide has NPFF2 activity.

The nucleotide sequences encoding a NPFF2 (or their complement) have numerous applications in techniques known to those skilled in the art of molecular biology. These techniques include use as hybridization probes, use in the construction of oligomers for PCR, use for chromosome and gene mapping, use in the recombinant production of NPFF2, and use in generation of antisense DNA or RNA, their chemical analogs and the like. Uses of nucleotides encoding a NPFF2 disclosed herein are exemplary of known techniques and are not intended to limit their use in any technique known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein may be used in molecular biology techniques that have not yet been developed, provided the new techniques rely on properties of nucleotide sequences that are currently known, e.g., the triplet genetic code, specific base pair interactions, etc.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code, a multitude of NPFF2—encoding nucleotide sequences may be produced. Some of these will only bear minimal homology to the nucleotide sequence of the known and naturally occurring NPFF2. The invention has specifically contemplated each and every possible variation of nucleotide sequence that could be made by selecting combinations based on possible codon choices. These combinations are made in accordance with the standard triplet genetic code as applied to the nucleotide sequence of naturally occurring NPFF2, and all such variations are to be considered as being specifically disclosed.

Although the nucleotide sequences which encode a NPFF2, its derivatives or its variants are preferably capable of hybridizing to the nucleotide sequence of the naturally occurring NPFF2 polynucleotide under stringent conditions, it may be advantageous to produce nucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2 polypeptides or its derivatives possessing a substantially different codon usage. Codons can be selected to increase the rate at which expression of the peptide occurs in a particular prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression host in accordance with the frequency with which particular codons are utilized by the host. Other reasons for substantially altering the nucleotide sequence encoding a NPFF2 polypeptide and/or its derivatives without altering the encoded amino acid sequence include the production of RNA transcripts having more desirable properties, such as a greater half-life, than transcripts produced from the naturally occurring sequence.

Nucleotide sequences encoding a NPFF2 polypeptide may be joined to a variety of other nucleotide sequences by means of well established recombinant DNA techniques. Useful nucleotide sequences for joining to NPFF2 polynucleotides include an assortment of cloning vectors such as plasmids, cosmids, lambda phage derivatives, phagemids, and the like. Vectors of interest include expression vectors, replication vectors, probe generation vectors, sequencing vectors, etc. In general, vectors of interest may contain an origin of replication functional in at least one organism, convenient restriction endonuclease sensitive sites, and selectable markers for one or more host cell systems.

Another aspect of the subject invention is to provide for NPFF2-specific hybridization probes capable of hybridizing with naturally occurring nucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2. Such probes may also be used for the detection of similar GPCR encoding sequences and should preferably show at least 40% nucleotide identity to NPFF2 polynucleotides. The hybridization probes of the subject invention may be derived from the nucleotide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO: 1 or from genomic sequences including promoter, enhancers or introns of the native gene. Hybridization probes may be labelled by a variety of reporter molecules using techniques well known in the art.

It will be recognized that many deletional or mutational analogs of NPFF2 polynucleotides will be effective hybridization probes for NPFF2 polynucleotides. Accordingly, the invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that hybridize with such NPFF2 encoding nucleic acid sequences under stringent conditions.

“Stringent conditions” refers to conditions that allow for the hybridization of substantially related nucleic acid sequences. For instance, such conditions will generally allow hybridization of sequence with at least about 85% sequence identity, preferably with at least about 90% sequence identity, more preferably with at least about 95% sequence identity. Hybridization conditions and probes can be adjusted, in well-characterized ways to achieve selective hybridization of human-derived probes. Stringent conditions, within the meaning of the invention are 65° C. in a buffer containing 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaPO₄ (pH 7.2), 7% (w/v) SDS.

Nucleic acid molecules that will hybridize to NPFF2 polynucleotides under stringent conditions can be identified functionally. Without limitation, examples of the uses for hybridization probes include: histochemical uses such as identifying tissues that express NPFF2; measuring mRNA levels, for instance to identify a sample's tissue type or to identify cells that express abnormal levels of NPFF2; and detecting polymorphisms of NPFF2.

PCR provides additional uses for oligonucleotides based upon the nucleotide sequence which encodes NPFF2. Such probes used in PCR may be of recombinant origin, chemically synthesized, or a mixture of both. Oligomers may comprise discrete nucleotide sequences employed under optimized conditions for identification of NPFF2 in specific tissues or diagnostic use. The same two oligomers, a nested set of oligomers, or even a degenerate pool of oligomers may be employed under less stringent conditions for identification of closely related DNAs or RNAs.

Rules for designing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers are now established, as reviewed by PCR Protocols. Degenerate primers, i.e., preparations of primers that are heterogeneous at given sequence locations, can be designed to amplify nucleic acid sequences that are highly homologous to, but not identical with NPFF2. Strategies are now available that allow for only one of the primers to be required to specifically hybridize with a known sequence. For example, appropriate nucleic acid primers can be ligated to the nucleic acid sought to be amplified to provide the hybridization partner for one of the primers. In this way, only one of the primers need be based on the sequence of the nucleic acid sought to be amplified.

PCR methods for amplifying nucleic acid will utilize at least two primers. One of these primers will be capable of hybridizing to a first strand of the nucleic acid to be amplified and of priming enzyme-driven nucleic acid synthesis in a first direction. The other will be capable of hybridizing the reciprocal sequence of the first strand (if the sequence to be amplified is single stranded, this sequence will initially be hypothetical, but will be synthesized in the first amplification cycle) and of priming nucleic acid synthesis from that strand in the direction opposite the first direction and towards the site of hybridization for the first primer. Conditions for conducting such amplifications, particularly under preferred stringent hybridization conditions, are well known.

Other means of producing specific hybridization probes for NPFF2 include the cloning of nucleic acid sequences encoding NPFF2 or NPFF2 derivatives into vectors for the production of mRNA probes. Such vectors are known in the art, are commercially available and may be used to synthesize RNA probes in vitro by means of the addition of the appropriate RNA polymerase as T7 or SP6 RNA polymerase and the appropriate reporter molecules.

It is possible to produce a DNA sequence, or portions thereof, entirely by synthetic chemistry. After synthesis, the nucleic acid sequence can be inserted into any of the many available DNA vectors and their respective host cells using techniques which are well known in the art. Moreover, synthetic chemistry may be used to introduce mutations into the nucleotide sequence. Alternately, a portion of sequence in which a mutation is desired can be synthesized and recombined with longer portion of an existing genoric or recombinant sequence.

NPFF2 polynucleotides may be used to produce a purified oligo-or polypeptide using well known methods of recombinant DNA technology. The oligopeptide may be expressed in a variety of host cells, either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Host cells may be from the same species from which the nucleotide sequence was derived or from a different species. Advantages of producing an oligonucleotide by recombinant DNA technology include obtaining adequate amounts of the protein for purification and the availability of simplified purification procedures.

Quantitative Determinations of Nucleic Acids

An important step in the molecular genetic analysis of human disease is often the enumeration of the copy number of a nucleis acid or the relative expression of a gene in particular tissues.

Several different approaches are currently available to make quantitative determinations of nucleic acids. Chromosome-based techniques, such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) facilitate efforts to cytogenetically localize genomic regions that are altered in tumor cells.

Regions of genomic alteration can be narrowed further using loss of heterozygosity analysis (LOH), in which disease DNA is analyzed and compared with normal DNA for the loss of a heterozygous polymorphic marker. The first experiments used restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) [Johnson, (1989)], or hyper-variable minisatellite DNA [Barnes, 2000]. In recent years LOH has been performed primarily using PCR amplification of microsatellite markers and electrophoresis of the radio labelled [Jeffreys, (1985)] or fluorescently labelled PCR products [Weber, (1990)] and compared between paired normal and disease DNAs.

A number of other methods have also been developed to quantify nucleic acids [Gergen, (1992)]. More recently, PCR and RT-PCR methods have been developed which are capable of measuring the amount of a nucleic acid in a sample. One approach, for example, measures PCR product quantity in the log phase of the reaction before the formation of reaction products plateaus [Thomas, (1980)].

A gene sequence contained in all samples at relatively constant quantity is typically utilized for sample amplification efficiency normalization. This approach, however, suffers from several drawbacks. The method requires that each sample has equal input amounts of the nucleic acid and that the amplification efficiency between samples is identical until the time of analysis. Furthermore, it is difficult using the conventional methods of PCR quantitation such as gel electrophoresis or plate capture hybridization to determine that all samples are in fact analyzed during the log phase of the reaction as required by the method.

Another method called quantitative competitive (QC)-PCR, as the name implies, relies on the inclusion of an internal control competitor in each reaction [Piatak, (1993), BioTechniques]. The efficiency of each reaction is normalized to the internal competitor. A known amount of internal competitor is typically added to each sample. The unknown target PCR product is compared with the known competitor PCR product to obtain relative quantitation. A difficulty with this general approach lies in developing an internal control that amplifies with the same efficiency than the target molecule.

5′ Fluorogenic Nuclease Assays

Fluorogenic nuclease assays are a real time quantitation method that uses a probe to monitor formation of amplification product. The basis for this method of monitoring the formation of amplification product is to measure continuously PCR product accumulation using a dual-labelled fluorogenic oligonucleotide probe, an approach frequently referred to in the literature simply as the “TaqMan method” [Piatak, (1993), Science; Heid, (1996); Gibson, (1996); Holland. (1991)].

The probe used in such assays is typically a short (about 20-25 bases) oligonucleotide that is labeled with two different fluorescent dyes. The 5′ terminus of the probe is attached to a reporter dye and the 3′ terminus is attached to a quenching dye, although the dyes could be attached at other locations on the probe as well. The probe is designed to have at least substantial sequence complementarity with the probe binding site. Upstream and downstream PCR primers which bind to flanking regions of the locus are added to the reaction mixture. When the probe is intact, energy transfer between the two fluorophors occurs and the quencher quenches emission from the reporter. During the extension phase of PCR, the probe is cleaved by the 5′ nuclease activity of a nucleic acid polymerase such as Taq polymerase, thereby releasing the reporter from the oligonucleotide-quencher and resulting in an increase of reporter emission intensity which can be measured by an appropriate detector.

One detector which is specifically adapted for measuring fluorescence emissions such as those created during a fluorogenic assay is the ABI 7700 or 4700 HT manufactured by Applied Biosystems, Inc. in Foster City, Calif. The ABI 7700 uses fiber optics connected with each well in a 96- or 384 well PCR tube arrangement. The instrument includes a laser for exciting the labels and is capable of measuring the fluorescence spectra intensity from each tube with continuous monitoring during PCR amplification. Each tube is re-examined every 8.5 seconds.

Computer software provided with the instrument is capable of recording the fluorescence intensity of reporter and quencher over the course of the amplification. The recorded values will then be used to calculate the increase in normalized reporter emission intensity on a continuous basis. The increase in emission intensity is plotted versus time, i.e., the number of amplification cycles, to produce a continuous measure of amplification. To quantify the locus in each amplification reaction, the amplification plot is examined at a point during the log phase of product accumulation. This is accomplished by assigning a fluorescence threshold intensity above background and determining the point at which each amplification plot crosses the threshold (defined as the threshold cycle number or Ct). Differences in threshold cycle number are used to quantify the relative amount of PCR target contained within each tube. Assuming that each reaction functions at 100% PCR efficiency, a difference of one Ct represents a two-fold difference in the amount of starting template. The fluorescence value can be used in conjunction with a standard curve to determine the amount of amplification product present.

Non-Probe-Based Detection Methods

A variety of options are available for measuring the amplification products as they are formed. One method utilizes labels, such as dyes, which only bind to double stranded DNA. In this type of approach, amplification product (which is double stranded) binds dye molecules in solution to form a complex. With the appropriate dyes, it is possible to distinguish between dye molecules free in solution and dye molecules bound to amplification product. For example, certain dyes fluoresce only when bound to amplification product. Examples of dyes which can be used in methods of this general type include, but are not limited to, Syber Green.™. and Pico Green from Molecular Probes, Inc. of Eugene, Oreg., ethidium bromide, propidium iodide, chromomycin, acridine orange, Hoechst 33258, Toto-1, Yoyo-1, DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole hydrochloride).

Another real time detection technique measures alteration in energy fluorescence energy transfer between fluorophors conjugated with PCR primers [Livak, (1995)].

Probe-Based Detection Methods

These detection methods involve some alteration to the structure or conformation of a probe hybridized to the locus between the amplification primer pair. In some instances, the alteration is caused by the template-dependent extension catalyzed by a nucleic acid polymerase during the amplification process. The alteration generates a detectable signal which is an indirect measure of the amount of amplification product formed.

For example, some methods involve the degradation or digestion of the probe during the extension reaction. These methods are a consequence of the 5′-3′ nuclease activity associated with some nucleic acid polymerases. Polymerases having this activity cleave mononucleotides or small oligonucleotides from an oligonucleotide probe annealed to its complementary sequence located within the locus.

The 3′ end of the upstream primer provides the initial binding site for the nucleic acid polymerase. As the polymerase catalyzes extension of the upstream primer and encounters the bound probe, the nucleic acid polymerase displaces a portion of the 5′ end of the probe and through its nuclease activity cleaves mononucleotides or oligonucleotides from the probe.

The upstream primer and the probe can be designed such that they anneal to the complementary strand in close proximity to one another. In fact, the 3′ end of the upstream primer and the 5′ end of the probe may abut one another. In this situation, extension of the upstream primer is not necessary in order for the nucleic acid polymerase to begin cleaving the probe. In the case in which intervening nucleotides separate the upstream primer and the probe, extension of the primer is necessary before the nucleic acid polymerase encounters the 5′ end of the probe. Once contact occurs and polymerization continues, the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity of the nucleic acid polymerase begins cleaving mononucleotides or oligonucleotides from the 5′ end of the probe. Digestion of the probe continues until the remaining portion of the probe dissociates from the complementary strand.

In solution, the two end sections can hybridize with each other to form a hairpin loop. In this conformation, the reporter and quencher dye are in sufficiently close proximity that fluorescence from the reporter dye is effectively quenched by the quencher dye. Hybridized probe, in contrast, results in a linearized conformation in which the extent of quenching is decreased. Thus, by monitoring emission changes for the two dyes, it is possible to indirectly monitor the formation of amplification if product.

Probes

The labeled probe is selected so that its sequence is substantially complementary to a segment of the test locus or a reference locus. As indicated above, the nucleic acid site to which the probe binds should be located between the primer binding sites for the upstream and downstream amplification primers.

Primers

The primers used in the amplification are selected so as to be capable of hybridizing to sequences at flanking regions of the locus being amplified. The primers are chosen to have at least substantial complementarity with the different strands of the nucleic acid being amplified. When a probe is utilized to detect the formation of amplification products, the primers are selected in such that they flank the probe, i.e. are located upstream and downstream of the probe.

The primer must have sufficient length so that it is capable of priming the synthesis of extension products in the presence of an agent for polymerization. The length and composition of the primer depends on many parameters, including, for example, the temperature at which the annealing reaction is conducted, proximity of the probe binding site to that of the primer, relative concentrations of the primer and probe and the particular nucleic acid composition of the probe. Typically the primer includes 15-30 nucleotides. However, the length of the primer may be more or less depending on the complexity of the primer binding site and the factors listed above.

Labels for Probes and Primers

The labels used for labeling the probes or primers of the current invention and which can provide the signal corresponding to the quantity of amplification product can take a variety of forms. As indicated above with regard to the 5′ fluorogenic nuclease method, a fluorescent signal is one signal which can be measured. However, measurements may also be made, for example, by monitoring radioactivity, colorimetry, absorption, magnetic parameters, or enzymatic activity. Thus, labels which can be employed include, but are not limited to, fluorophors, chromophores, radioactive isotopes, electron dense reagents, enzymes, and ligands having specific binding partners (e.g., biotin-avidin).

Monitoring changes in fluorescence is a particularly useful way to monitor the accumulation of amplification products. A number of labels useful for attachment to probes or primers are commercially available including fluorescein and various fluorescein derivatives such as FAM, HEX, TET and JOE (all which are available from Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.); lucifer yellow, and coumarin derivatives.

Labels may be attached to the probe or primer using a variety of techniques and can be attached at the 5′ end, and/or the 3′ end and/or at an internal nucleotide. The label can also be attached to spacer arms of various sizes which are attached to the probe or primer. These spacer arms are useful for obtaining a desired distance between multiple labels attached to the probe or primer.

In some instances, a single label may be utilized; whereas, in other instances, such as with the 5′ fluorogenic nuclease assays for example, two or more labels are attached to the probe. In cases wherein the probe includes multiple labels, it is generally advisable to maintain spacing between the labels which is sufficient to permit separation of the labels during digestion of the probe through the 5′-3′ nuclease activity of the nucleic acid polymerase.

Patients Exhibiting Symptoms of Disease

A number of diseases are associated with changes in the copy number of a certain gene. For patients having symptoms of a disease, the real-time PCR method can be used to determine if the patient has copy number alterations which are known to be linked with diseases that are associated with the symptoms the patient has.

NPFF2 Expression

NPFF2Fusion Proteins

Fusion proteins are useful for generating antibodies against NPFF2 polypeptides and for use in various assay systems. For example, fusion proteins can be used to identify proteins which interact with portions of NPFF2 polypeptides. Protein affinity chromatography or library-based assays for protein-protein interactions, such as the yeast two-hybrid or phage display systems, can be used for this purpose. Such methods are well known in the art and also can be used as drug screens.

A NPFF2 fusion protein comprises two polypeptide segments fused together by means of a peptide bond. The first polypeptide segment can comprise at least 54, 75, 100, 125, 139, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, or 275 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of a biologically active variant, such as those described above. The first polypeptide segment also can comprise full-length NPFF2.

The second polypeptide segment can be a full-length protein or a protein fragment. Proteins commonly used in fusion protein construction include, but are not limited to β galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), autofluorescent proteins, including blue fluorescent protein (BFP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), luciferase, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Additionally, epitope tags are used in fusion protein constructions, including histidine (His) tags, FLAG tags, influenza hemagglutinin (HA) tags, Myc tags, VSV-G tags, and thioredoxin (Trx) tags. Other fusion constructions can include maltose binding protein (MBP), S-tag, Lex a DNA binding domain (DBD) fusions, GAL4 DNA binding domain fusions, herpes simplex virus (HSV) BP16 protein fusions and G-protein fusions (for example G(alpha)16, Gs, Gi). A fusion protein also can be engineered to contain a cleavage site located adjacent to the NPFF2.

Preparation of Polynucleotides

A naturally occurring NPFF2 polynucleotide can be isolated free of other cellular components such as membrane components, proteins, and lipids. Polynucleotides can be made by a cell and isolated using standard nucleic acid purification techniques, or synthesized using an amplification technique, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or by using an automatic synthesizer. Methods for isolating polynucleotides are routine and are known in the art. Any such technique for obtaining a polynucleotide can be used to obtain isolated NPFF2 polynucleotides. For example, restriction enzymes and probes can be used to isolate polynucleotide fragments which comprise NPFF2 nucleotide sequences. Isolated polynucleotides are in preparations which are free or at least 70, 80, or 90% free of other molecules. NPFF2 cDNA molecules can be made with standard molecular biology techniques, using NPFF2 mRNA as a template. NPFF2 cDNA molecules can thereafter be replicated using molecular biology techniques known in the art. An amplification technique, such as PCR, can be used to obtain additional copies of polynucleotides of the invention, using either human genomic DNA or cDNA as a template.

Alternatively, synthetic chemistry techniques can be used to synthesizes NPFF2 polynucleotides. The degeneracy of the genetic code allows alternate nucleotide sequences to be synthesized which will encode NPFF2 having, for example, an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a biologically active variant thereof.

Extending Polynucleotides

Various PCR-based methods can be used to extend nucleic acid sequences encoding human NPFF2, for example to detect upstream sequences of NPFF2 gene such as promoters and regulatory elements. For example, restriction-site PCR uses universal primers to retrieve unknown sequence adjacent to a known locus. Genomic DNA is first amplified in the presence of a primer to a linker sequence and a primer specific to the known region. The amplified sequences are then subjected to a second round of PCR with the same linker primer and another specific primer internal to the first one. Products of each round of PCR are transcribed with an appropriate RNA polymerase and sequenced using reverse transcriptase.

Inverse PCR also can be used to amplify or extend sequences using divergent primers based on a known region. Primers can be designed using commercially available software, such as OLIGO 4.06 Primer Analysis software (National Biosciences Inc., Plymouth, Minn.), to be 22-30 nucleotides in length, to have a GC content of 50% or more, and to anneal to the target sequence at temperatures about 68-72° C. The method uses several restriction enzymes to generate a suitable fragment in the known region of a gene. The fragment is then circularized by intramolecular ligation and used as a PCR template.

Another method which can be used is capture PCR, which involves PCR amplification of DNA fragments adjacent to a known sequence in human and yeast artificial chromosome DNA. In this method, multiple restriction enzyme digestions and ligations also can be used to place an engineered double-stranded sequence into an unknown fragment of the DNA molecule before performing PCR.

When screening for full-length cDNAs, it is preferable to use libraries that have been size-selected to include larger cDNAs. Randomly-primed libraries are preferable, in that they will contain more sequences which contain the 5′ regions of genes. Use of a randomly primed library may be especially preferable for situations in which an oligo d(T) library does not yield a full-length cDNA. Genomic libraries can be useful for extension of sequence into 5′ non-transcribed regulatory regions.

Commercially available capillary electrophoresis systems can be used to analyze the size or confirm the nucleotide sequence of PCR or sequencing products. For example, capillary sequencing can employ flowable polymers for electrophoretic separation, four different fluorescent dyes (one for each nucleotide) which are laser activated, and detection of the emitted wavelengths by a charge coupled device camera. Output/light intensity can be converted to electrical signal using appropriate equipment and software (e.g., GENOTYPER and Sequence NAVIGATOR, Perkin Elmer), and the entire process from loading of samples to computer analysis and electronic data display can be computer controlled. Capillary electrophoresis is especially preferable for the sequencing of small pieces of DNA which might be present in limited amounts in a particular sample.

Obtaining Polypeptides

NPFF2 can be obtained, for example, by purification from human cells, by expression of NPFF2 polynucleotides, or by direct chemical synthesis.

Protein Purification

NPFF2 can be purified from any human cell which expresses the receptor, including those which have been transfected with expression constructs which express NPFF2. A purified NPFF2 is separated from other compounds which normally associate with NPFF2 in the cell, such as certain proteins, carbohydrates, or lipids, using methods well-known in the art. Such methods include, but are not limited to, size exclusion chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and preparative gel electrophoresis.

Expression of NPFF2 Polynucleotides

To express NPFF2, NPFF2 polynucleotides can be inserted into an expression vector which contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted coding sequence. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing sequences encoding NPFF2 and appropriate transcriptional and translational control elements. These methods include in vitro recombinant. DNA techniques, synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination

A variety of expression vector/host systems can be utilized to contain and express sequences encoding NPFF2. These include, but are not limited to, microorganisms, such as bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage, plasmid, or cosmid DNA expression vectors; yeast transformed with yeast expression vectors, insect cell systems infected with virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus), plant cell systems transformed with virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or with bacterial expression vectors (e.g., Ti or pBR322 plasmids), or animal cell systems.

The control elements or regulatory sequences are those non-translated regions of the vector—enhancers, promoters, 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions—which interact with host cellular proteins to carry out transcription and translation. Such elements can vary in their strength and specificity. Depending on the vector system and host utilized, any number of suitable transcription and translation elements, including constitutive and inducible promoters, can be used. For example, when cloning in bacterial systems, inducible promoters such as the hybrid lacZ promoter of the BLUESCRIPT phagemid (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.) or pSPORT1 plasmid (Life Technologies) and the like can be used. The baculovirus polyhedrin promoter can be used in insect cells. Promoters or enhancers derived from the genomes of plant cells (e.g., heat shock, RUBISCO, and storage protein genes) or from plant viruses (e.g., viral promoters or leader sequences) can be cloned into the vector. In mammalian cell systems, promoters from mammalian genes or from mammalian viruses are preferable. If it is necessary to generate a cell line that contains multiple copies of a nucleotide sequence encoding NPFF2, vectors based on SV40 or EBV can be used with an appropriate selectable marker.

Bacterial and Yeast Expression Systems

In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors can be selected. For example, when a large quantity of NPFF2 is needed for the induction of antibodies, vectors which direct high level expression of fusion proteins that are readily purified can be used Such vectors include, but are not limited to, multifunctional E. coli cloning and expression vectors such as BLUESCRIPT (Stratagene). In a BLUESCRIPT vector, a sequence encoding NPFF2 can be ligated into the vector in frame with sequences for the amino-terminal Met and the subsequent 7 residues of β-galactosidase so that a hybrid protein is produced. pIN vectors or pGEX vectors (Promega, Madison, Wis.) also can be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption to glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. Proteins made in such systems can be designed to include heparin, thrombin, or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned polypeptide of interest can be released from the GST moiety at will.

Plant and Insect Expression Systems

If plant expression vectors are used, the expression of sequences encoding NPFF2 can be driven by any of a number of promoters. For example, viral promoters such as the 35S and 19S promoters of CaMV can be used alone or in combination with the omega leader sequence from TMV. Alternatively, plant promoters such as the small subunit of RUBISCO or heat shock promoters can be used. These constructs can be introduced into plant cells by direct DNA transformation or by pathogen-mediated transfection.

An insect system also can be used to express NPFF2. For example, in one such system Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes in Spodoptera frugiperda cells or in Trichoplusia larvae. Sequences encoding NPFF2 can be cloned into a non-essential region of the virus, such as the polyhedrin gene, and placed under control of the polyhedrin promoter. Successful insertion of NPFF2 will render the polyhedrin gene inactive and produce recombinant virus lacking coat protein. The recombinant viruses can then be used to infect S. frugiperda cells or Trichoplusia larvae in which NPFF2 can be expressed.

Mammalian Expression Systems

A number of viral-based expression systems can be used to express NPFF2 in mammalian host cells. For example, if an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, sequences encoding NPFF2 can be ligated into an adenovirus transcription/-translation complex comprising the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. Insertion in a non-essential E1 or E3 region of the viral genome can be used to obtain a viable virus which is capable of expressing NPFF2 in infected host cells [Engelhard, 1994)]. If desired, transcription enhancers, such as the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) enhancer, can be used to increase expression in mammalian host cells.

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) also can be used to deliver larger fragments of DNA than can be contained and expressed in a plasmid. HACs of 6M to 10M are constructed and delivered to cells via conventional delivery methods (e.g., liposomes, polycationic amino polymers, or vesicles). Specific initiation signals also can be used to achieve more efficient translation of sequences encoding NPFF2. Such signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. In cases where sequences encoding NPFF2, its initiation codon, and upstream sequences are inserted into the appropriate expression vector, no additional transcriptional or translational control signals may be needed. However, in cases where only coding sequence, or a fragment thereof, is inserted, exogenous translational control signals (including the ATG initiation codon) should be provided. The initiation codon should be in the correct reading frame to ensure translation of the entire insert. Exogenous translational elements and initiation codons can be of various origins, both natural and synthetic.

Host Cells

A host cell strain can be chosen for its ability to modulate the expression of the inserted sequences or to process the expressed NPFF2 in the desired fashion. Such modifications of the polypeptide include, but are not limited to, acetylation, carboxylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation, and acylation. Post-translational processing which cleaves a “prepro” form of the polypeptide also can be used to facilitate correct insertion, folding and/or function. Different host cells which have specific cellular machinery and characteristic mechanisms for post-translational activities (e.g., CHO, HeLa, MDCK, HEK293, and WI38), are available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209) and can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein.

Stable expression is preferred for long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins. For example, cell lines which stably express NPPF2 can be transformed using expression vectors which can contain viral origins of replication and/or endogenous expression elements and a selectable marker gene on the same or on a separate vector. Following the introduction of the vector, cells can be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched medium before they are switched to a selective medium. The purpose of the selectable marker is to confer resistance to selection, and its presence allows growth and recovery of cells which successfully express the introduced NPFF2 sequences. Resistant clones of stably transformed cells can be proliferated using tissue culture techniques appropriate to the cell type. Any number of selection systems can be used to recover transformed cell lines. These include, but are not limited to, the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase [Logan, (1984)] and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase [Wigler, (1977)] genes which can be employed in tk⁻ or aprf cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite, antibiotic, or herbicide resistance can be used as the basis for selection. For example, dhfr confers resistance to methotrexate [Lowy, (1980)], npt confers resistance to the ammoglycosides, neomycin and G-418 [Wigler, (1980)], and als and pat confer resistance to chlorsulfuron and phosphinotricin acetyltransferase, respectively [Colbere-Garapin, 1981]. Additional selectable genes have been described. For example, trpB allows cells to utilize indole in place of tryptophan, or hisD, which allows cells to utilize histinol in place of histidine [Murray, (1992)). Visible markers such as anthocyanins, β-glucuronidase and its substrate GUS, and luciferase and its substrate luciferin, can be used to identify transformants and to quantify the amount of transient or stable protein expression attributable to a specific vector system

Detecting Polypeptide Expression

Although the presence of maker gene expression suggests that a NPFF2 polynucleotide is also present, its presence and expression may need to be confirmed. For example, if a sequence encoding MFF2 is inserted within a marker gene sequence, transformed cells containing sequences which encode NPFF2 can be identified by the absence of marker gene function. Alternatively, a marker gene can be placed in tandem with a sequence encoding NPFF2 under the control of a single promoter. Expression of the marker gene in response to induction or selection usually indicates expression of NPFF2 polynucleotide.

Alternatively, host cells which contain a NPFF2 polynucleotide and which express NPFF2 can be identified by a variety of procedures known to those of skill in the art. These procedures include, but are not limited to, DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridizations and protein bioassay or immunoassay techniques which include membrane, solution, or chip-based technologies for the detection and/or quantification of nucleic acid or protein. For example, the presence of a polynucleotide sequence encoding NPFF2 can be detected by DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridization or amplification using probes or fragments or fragments of polynucleotides encoding NPFF2. Nucleic acid amplification-based assays involve the use of oligonucleotides selected from sequences encoding NPFF2 to detect transformants which contain a NPFF2 polynucleotide.

A variety of protocols for detecting and measuring the expression of NPFF2, using either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies specific for the polypeptide, are known in the art. Examples include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radio-immunoassay (RIA), and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). A two-site, monoclonal-based immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies reactive to two non-interfering epitopes on NPFF2 can be used, or a competitive binding assay can be employed.

A wide variety of labels and conjugation techniques are known by those skilled in the art and can be used in various nucleic acid and amino acid assays. Means for producing labeled hybridization or PCR probes for detecting sequences related to polynucleotides encoding NPFF2 include oligolabeling, nick tanslation, end-labeling, or PCR amplification using a labeled nucleotide. Alternatively, sequences encoding NPFF2 can be cloned into a vector for the production of an mRNA probe. Such vectors are known in the art, are commercially available, and can be used to synthesize RNA probes in vitro by addition of labeled nucleotides and an appropriate RNA polymerase such as T7, T3, or SP6. These procedures can be conducted using a variety of commercially available kits (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Promega, and US Biochemical). Suitable reporter molecules or labels which can be used for ease of detection include radionuclides, enzymes, and fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or chromogenic agents, as well as substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, magnetic particles, and the like.

Expression and Purification of Polypeptides

Host cells transformed with NPFF2 polynucleotides can be cultured under conditions suitable for the expression and recovery of the protein from cell culture. The polypeptide produced by a transformed cell can be secreted or contained intra-cellularly depending on the sequence and/or the vector used. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, expression vectors containing NPFF2 polynucleotides can be designed to contain signal sequences which direct secretion of soluble NPFF2 through a prokaryotic or eukatyotic cell membrane or which direct the membrane insertion of membrane-bound NPFF2.

As discussed above, other constructions can be used to join a sequence encoding NPFF2 to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide domain which will facilitate purification of soluble proteins. Such purification facilitating domains include, but are not limited to, metal chelating peptides such as histidine-tryptophan modules that allow purification on immobilized metals, protein A domains that allow purification on immobilized immunoglobulin, and the domain utilized in the FLAGS extension/-affinity purification system (Immunex Corp., Seattle, Wash.). Inclusion of cleavable linker sequences such as those specific for Factor XA or enterokinase (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) between the purification domain and NPFF2 also can be used to facilitate purification. One such expression vector provides for expression of a fusion protein containing NPFF2 and 6 histidine residues preceding a thioredoxin or an enterokinase cleavage site. The histidine residues facilitate purification by IMAC (immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography) Maddox, (1983)], while the enterokinase cleavage site provides a means for purifying NPFF2 from the fusion protein [Porath, (1992)].

Chemical Synthesis

Sequences encoding NPFF2 can be synthesized, in whole or in part, using chemical methods well known in the art. Alternatively, NPFF2 itself can be produced using chemical methods to synthesize its amino acid sequence, such as by direct peptide synthesis using solid-phase techniques. Protein synthesis can either be performed using manual techniques or by automation. Automated synthesis can be achieved, for example, using Applied Biosystems 431A Peptide Synthesizer (Perkin Elmer). Optionally, fragments of NPFF2 can be separately synthesized and combined using chemical methods to produce a full-length molecule.

The newly synthesized peptide can be substantially purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography. The composition of a synthetic NPFF2 can be confirmed by amino acid analysis or sequencing. Additionally, any portion of the. amino acid sequence of NPFF2 can be altered during direct synthesis and/or combined using chemical methods with sequences from other proteins to produce a variant polypeptide or a fusion protein.

Production of Altered Polypeptides

As will be understood by those of skill in the art, it may be advantageous to produce NPFF2 polynucleotides possessing non-naturally occurring codons. For example, codons preferred by a particular prokaryotic or eukaryotic host can be selected to increase the rate of protein expression or to produce an RNA transcript having desirable properties, such as a half-life which is longer than that of a transcript generated from the naturally occurring sequence.

The nucleotide sequences referred to herein can be engineered using methods generally known in the art to alter NPFF2 polynucleotides for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, alterations which modify the cloning, processing, and/or expression of the polypeptide or mRNA product. DNA shuffling by random fragmentation and PCR reassembly of gene fragments and synthetic oligonucleotides can be used to engineer the nucleotide sequences. For example, site-directed mutagenesis can be used to insert new restriction sites, alter glycosylation patterns, change codon preference, produce splice variants, introduce mutations, and so forth

Antibodies

Any type of antibody known in the art can be generated to bind specifically to an epitope of NPFF2.

“Antibody” as used herein includes intact immunoglobulin molecules, as well as fragments thereof, such as Fab, F(ab′)₂, and Fv, which are capable of binding an epitope of NPFF2. Typically, at least 6, 8, 10, or 12 contiguous amino acids are required to form an epitope. However, epitopes which involve non-contiguous amino acids may require more, e.g., at least 15, 25, or 50 amino acid. An antibody which specifically binds to an epitope of NPFF2 can be used therapeutically, as well as in immunochemical assays, such as Western blots, ELISAs, radioimmunoassays, immunohistochemical assays, immunoprecipitations, or other immunochemical assays known in the art. Various immunoassays can be used to identify antibodies having the desired specificity. Numerous protocols for competitive binding or immunoradiometric assays are well known in the art. Such immunoassays typically involve the measurement of complex formation between an immunogen and an antibody which specifically binds to the NPFF2 immunogen.

Typically, an antibody which specifically binds to NPFF2 provides a detection signal at least 5-, 10-, or 20-fold higher than a detection signal provided with other proteins when used in an immunochemical assay. Preferably, antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2 do not detect other proteins in immunochemical assays and can immunoprecipitate NPFF2 from solution.

NPFF2 can be used to immunize a mammal, such as a mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig, monkey, or human, to produce polyclonal antibodies. If desired, NPFF2 can be conjugated to a carrier protein, such as bovine serum albumin, thyroglobulin, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Depending on the host species, various adjuvants can be used to increase the immunological response. Such adjuvants include, but are not limited to, Freund's adjuvant, mineral gels (e.g., aluminum hydroxide), and surface active substances (e.g., lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and dinitrophenol). Among adjuvants used in humans, BCG (bacilli Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum are especially useful.

Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2 can be prepared using any technique which provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These techniques include, but are not limited to, the hybridoma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique, and the EBV-hybridoma technique [Roberge, (1995)].

In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies”, the splicing of mouse antibody genes to human antibody genes to obtain a molecule with appropriate antigen specificity and biological activity, can be used. Monoclonal and other antibodies also can be “humanized” to prevent a patient from mounting an immune response against the antibody when it is used therapeutically. Such antibodies may be sufficiently similar in sequence to human antibodies to be used directly in therapy or may require alteration of a few key residues. Sequence differences between rodent antibodies and human sequences can be minimized by replacing residues which differ from those in the human sequences by site directed mutagenesis of individual residues or by grating of entire complementarity determining regions. Antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2 can contain antigen binding sites which are either partially or fully humanized, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,332.

Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies can be adapted using methods known in the art to produce single chain antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2. Antibodies with related specificity, but of distinct idiotypic composition, can be generated by chain shuffling from random combinatorial immunoglobin libraries. Single-chain antibodies also can be constructed using a DNA amplification method, such as PCR, using hybridoma cDNA as a template. Single-chain antibodies can be mono- or bispecific, and can be bivalent or tetravalent. Construction of tetravalent, bispecific single-chain antibodies is taught. A nucleotide sequence encoding a single-chain antibody can be constructed using manual or automated nucleotide synthesis, cloned into an expression construct using standard recombinant DNA methods, and introduced into a cell to express the coding sequence, as described below. Alternatively, single-chain antibodies can be produced directly using, for example, filamentous phage technology.

Antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2 also can be produced by inducing in vivo production in the lymphocyte population or by screening immunoglobulin libraries or panels of highly specific binding reagents. Other types of antibodies can be constructed and used therapeutically in methods of the invention. For example, chimeric antibodies can be constructed as disclosed in WO 93/03151. Binding proteins which are derived from immunoglobulins and which are multivalent and multispecific, such as the “diabodies” described in WO 94/13804, also can be prepared.

Antibodies according to the invention can be purified by methods well known in the art. For example, antibodies can be affinity purified by passage over a column to which NPFF2 is bound. The bound antibodies can then be eluted from the column using a buffer with a high salt concentration.

Antisense Oligonucleotides

Antisense oligonucleotides are nucleotide sequences which are complementary to a specific DNA or RNA sequence. Once introduced into a cell, the complementary nucleotides combine with natural sequences produced by the cell to form complexes and block either transcription or translation. Preferably, an antisense oligonucleotide is at least 11 nucleotides in length, but can be at least 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 or more nucleotides long. Longer sequences also can be used Antisense oligonucleotide molecules can be provided in a DNA construct and introduced into a cell as described above to decrease the level of NPFF2 gene products in the cell.

Antisense oligonucleotides can be deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, or a combination of both. Oligonucleotides can be synthesized manually or by an automated synthesizer, by covalently linking the 5′ end of one nucleotide with the 3′ end of another nucleotide with non-phosphodiester internucleotide linkages such alkylphosphonates, phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, alkylphosphonothioates, alkylphosphonates, phosphoramidates, phosphate esters, carbamates, acetamidate, carboxymethyl esters, carbonates, and phosphate triesters.

Modifications of NPFF2 gene expression can be obtained by designing antisense oligonucleotides which will form duplexes to the control, 5′, or regulatory regions of the NPFF2 gene. Oligonucleotides derived from the transcription initiation site, e.g., between positions −10 and +10 from the start site, are preferred. Similarly, inhibition can be achieved using “triple helix” base-pairing methodology. Triple helix pairing is useful because it causes inhibition of the ability of the double helix to open sufficiently for the binding of polymerases, transcription factors, or chaperons. Therapeutic advances using triplex DNA have been described in the literature [Nicholls, (1993)]. An antisense oligonucleotide also can be designed to block translation of mRNA by preventing the transcript from binding to ribosomes.

Precise complementarity is not required for successful complex formation between an antisense oligonucleotide and the complementary sequence of a NPFF2 polynucleotide. Antisense oligonucleotides which comprise, for example, 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more stretches of contiguous nucleotides which are precisely complementary to a NPFF2 polynucleotide, each separated by a stretch of contiguous nucleotides which are not complementary to adjacent NPFF2 nucleotides, can provide sufficient targeting specificity for NPFF2 mRNA. Preferably, each stretch of complementary contiguous nucleotides is at least 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 or more nucleotides in length. Non-complementary intervening sequences are preferably 1, 2, 3, or 4 nucleotides in length. One skilled in the art can easily use the calculated melting point of an antisense-sense pair to determine the degree of mismatching which will be tolerated between a particular antisense oligonucleotide and a particular NPFF2 polynucleotide sequence. Antisense oligonucleotides can be modified without affecting their ability to hybridize to a NPFF2 polynucleotide. These modifications can be internal or at one or both ends of the antisense molecule. For example, internucleoside phosphate linkages can be modified by adding cholesteryl or diamine moieties with varying numbers of carbon residues between the amino groups and terminal ribose. Modified bases and/or sugars, such as arabinose instead of ribose, or a 3′,5′-substituted oligonucleotide in which the 3′ hydroxyl group or the 5′ phosphate group are substituted, also can be employed in a modified antisense oligonucleotide. These modified oligonucleotides can be prepared by methods well known in the art.

Ribozymes

Ribozymes are RNA molecules with catalytic activity [Uhlmann, (1987)]. Ribozymes can be used to inhibit gene function by cleaving an RNA sequence, as is known in the art The mechanism of ribozyme action involves sequence-specific hybridization of the ribozyme molecule to complementary target RNA, followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Examples include engineered hammerhead motif ribozyme molecules that can specifically and efficiently catalyze endonucleolytic cleavage of specific nucleotide sequences. The coding sequence of a NPFF2 polynucleotide can be used to generate ribozymes which will specifically bind to mRNA transcribed from a NPFF2 polynucleotide. Methods of designing and constructing ribozymes which can cleave other RNA molecules in trans in a highly sequence specific manner have been developed and described in the art. For example, the cleavage activity of ribozymes can be targeted to specific RNAs by engineering a discrete “hybridization” region into the ribozyme. The hybridization region contains a sequence complementary to the target RNA and thus specifically hybridizes with the target RNA.

Specific ribozyme cleavage sites within a NPFF2 RNA target can be identified by scanning the target molecule for ribozyme cleavage sites which include the following sequences: GUA, GUU, and GUC. Once identified, short RNA sequences of between 15 and 20 ribonucleotides corresponding to the region of the target RNA containing the cleavage site can be evaluated for secondary structural features which may render the target inoperable. Suitability of candidate NPFF2 RNA targets also can be evaluated by testing accessibility to hybridization with complementary oligonucleotides using ribonuclease protection assays. The nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and its complement provide sources of suitable hybridization region sequences. Longer complementary sequences can be used to increase the affinity of the hybridization sequence for the target. The hybridizing and cleavage regions of the ribozyme can be integrally related such that upon hybridizing to the target RNA through the complementary regions, the catalytic region of the ribozyme can cleave the target.

Ribozymes can be introduced into cells as part of a DNA construct. Mechanical methods, such as microinjection, liposome-mediated transfection, electroporation, or calcium phosphate precipitation, can be used to introduce a ribozyme-containing DNA construct into cells in which it is desired to decrease NPFF2 expression.

Alternatively, if it is desired that the cells stably retain the DNA construct, the construct can be supplied on a plasmid and maintained as a separate element or integrated into the genome of the cells, as is known in the art. A ribozyme-encoding DNA construct can include transcriptional regulatory elements, such as a promoter element, an enhancer or UAS element, and a transcriptional terminator signal, for controlling transcription of ribozymes in the cells (U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,673). Ribozymes also can be engineered to provide an additional level of regulation, so that destruction of mRNA occurs only when both a ribozyme and a target gene are induced in the cells.

Screening/Screening Assays

Regulators

Regulators as used herein, refer to compounds that affect the activity of a NPFF2 in vivo and/or in vivo. Regulators can be agonists and antagonists of a NPFF2 polypeptide and can be compounds that exhert their effect on the NPFF2 activity via the expression, via post-translational modifications or by other means. Agonists of NPFF2 are molecules which, when bound to NPFF2, increase or prolong the activity of NPFF2. Agonists of NPFF2 include proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, small molecules, or any other molecule which activate NPFF2. Antagonists of NPFF2 are molecules which, when bound to NPFF2, decrease the amount or the duration of the activity of NPFF2. Antagonists include proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, antibodies, small molecules, or any other molecule which decrease the activity of NPFF2.

The term “modulate”, as it appears herein, refers to a change in the activity of NPFF2 polypeptide. For example, modulation may cause an increase or a decrease in protein activity, binding characteristics, or any other biological, functional, or immunological properties of NPFF2.

As used herein, the terms “specific binding” or “specifically binding” refer to that interaction between a protein or peptide and an agonist, an antibody, or an antagonist. The interaction is dependent upon the presence of a particular structure of the protein recognized by the binding molecule (i.e., the antigenic determinant or epitope). For example, if an antibody is specific for epitope “A” the presence of a polypeptide containing the epitope A, or the presence of free unlabeled A, in a reaction containing free labeled A and the antibody will reduce the amount of labeled A that binds to the antibody.

The invention provides methods (also referred to herein as “screening assays”) for identifying compounds which can be used for the treatment of hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases. The methods entail the identification of candidate or test compounds or agents (e.g., peptides, peptidomimetics, small molecules or other molecules) which bind to NPFF2 and/or have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on the biological activity of NPFF2 or its expression and then determining which of these compounds have an effect on symtoms or diseases regarding the hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases in an in vivo assay.

Candidate or test compounds or agents which bind to NPFF2 and/or have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on the activity or the expression of NPFF2 are identified either in assays that employ cells which express NPFF2 on the cell surface (cell-based assays) or in assays with isolated NPFF2 (cell-free assays). The various assays can employ a variety of variants of NPFF2 (e.g., full-length NPFF2, a biologically active fragment of NPFF2, or a fusion protein which includes all or a portion of NPFF2). Moreover, NPFF2 can be derived from any suitable mammalian species (e.g., human NPFF2, rat NPFF2 or murine NPFF2). The assay can be a binding assay entailing direct or indirect measurement of the binding of a test compound or a known NPFF2 ligand to NPFF2. The assay can also be an activity assay entailing direct or indirect measurement of the activity of NPFF2. The assay can also be an expression assay entailing direct or indirect measurement of the expression of NPFF2 mRNA or NPFF2 protein. The various screening assays are combined with an in vivo assay entailing measuring the effect of the test compound on the symptoms of hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases.

In one embodiment, the invention provides assays for screening candidate or test compounds which bind to or modulate the activity of a membrane-bound (cell surface expressed) form of NPFF2. Such assays can employ full-length NPFF2, a biologically active fragment of NPFF2, or a fusion protein which includes all or a portion of NPFF2. As described in greater detail below, the test compound can be obtained by any suitable means, e.g., from conventional compound libraries. Determining the ability of the test compound to bind to a membrane-bound form of NPFF2 can be accomplished, for example, by coupling the test compound with a radioisotope or enzymatic label such that binding of the test compound to the NPFF2 -expressing cell can be measured by detecting the labeled compound in a complex. For example, the test compound can be labelled with ¹²⁵I, ³⁵S, ¹⁴C, or ³H, either directly or indirectly, and the radioisotope detected by direct counting of radio-emmission or by scintillation counting. Alternatively, the test compound can be enzymatically labelled with, for example, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or luciferase, and the enzymatic label detected by determination of conversion of an appropriate substrate to product.

In a competitive binding format, the assay comprises contacting NPFF2 expressing cell with a known compound which binds to NPFF2 to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with the NPFF2 expressing cell, wherein determining the ability of the test compound to interact with he NPFF2 expressing cell comprises determining the ability of the test compound to preferentially bind the NPFF2 expressing cell as compared to the known compound.

In another embodiment, the assay is a cell-based assay comprising contacting a cell expressing a membrane-bound form of NPFF2 (e.g., full-length NPFF2, a biologically active fragment of NPFF2, or a fusion protein which includes all or a portion of NPFF2) expressed on the cell surface with a test compound and determining the ability of the test compound to modulate (e.g., stimulate or inhibit) the activity of the membrane-bound form of NPFF2. Determining the ability of the test compound to modulate the activity of the membrane-bound form of NPFF2 can be accomplished by any method suitable for measuring the activity of NPFF2, e.g., any method suitable for measuring the activity of a G-protein coupled receptor or other seven-transmembrane receptor (described in greater detail below). The activity of a seven-transmembrane receptor can be measured in a number of ways, not all of which are suitable for any given receptor. Among the measures of activity are: alteration in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, activation of phospholipase C, alteration in intra-cellular inositol triphosphate (IP₃) concentration, alteration in intracellular diacylglycerol (AG) concentration, and alteration in intracellular adenosine cyclic 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) concentration.

Determining the ability of the test compound to modulate the activity of NPFF2 can be accomplished, for example, by determining the ability of NPFF2 to bind to or interact with a target molecule, The target molecule can be a molecule with which NPFF2 binds or interacts with in nature, for example, a molecule on the surface of a cell which expresses NPFF2, a molecule on the surface of a second cell, a molecule in the extracellular milieu, a molecule associated with the internal surface of a cell membrane or a cytoplasmic molecule. The target molecule can be a component of a signal transduction pathway which facilitates transduction of an extracellular signal (e.g., a signal generated by binding of a NPFF2 ligand, through the cell membrane and into the cell. The target NPFF2 molecule can be, for example, a second intracellular protein which has catalytic activity or a protein which facilitates the association of downstream signaling molecules with NPFF2.

Determining the ability of NPFF2 to bind to or interact with a target molecule can be accomplished by one of the methods described above for determining direct binding. In one embodiment, determining the ability of a polypeptide of the invention to bind to or interact with a target molecule can be accomplished by determining the activity of the target molecule. For example, the activity of the target molecule can be determined by detecting induction of a cellular second messenger of the target (e.g., intracellular Ca²⁺, diacylglycerol, IP₃, etc.), detecting catalytic/enzymatic activity of the target on an appropriate substrate, detecting the induction of a reporter gene (e.g., a regulatory element that is responsive to a polypeptide of the invention operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding a detectable marker, e.g., luciferase), or detecting a cellular response.

The present invention also includes cell-free assays. Such assays involve contacting a form of NPFF2 (e.g., full-length NPFF2, a biologically active fragment of NPFF2, or a fusion protein comprising all or a portion of NPFF2) with a test compound and determining the ability of the test compound to bind to NPFF2. Binding of the test compound to NPFF2 can be determined either directly or indirectly as described above. In one embodiment, the assay includes contacting NPFF2 with a known compound which binds NPFF2 to form an assay mire, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with NPFF2, wherein determining the ability of the test compound to interact with NPFF2 comprises determining the ability of the test compound to preferentially bind to NPFF2 as compared to the known compound.

The cell-free assays of the present invention are amenable to use of either a membrane-bound form of NPFF2 or a soluble fragment thereof In the case of cell-free assays comprising the membrane-bound form of the polypeptide, it may be desirable to utilize a solubilizing agent such that the membrane-bound form of the polypeptide is maintained in solution. Examples of such solubilizing agents include but are not limited to non-ionic detergents such as n-octylglucoside, n-dodecyl-glucoside, n-dodecylmaltoside, octanoyl-N-methylglucamide, decanoyl-N-methyl-glucamide, Triton X-100, Triton X-114, Thesit, Isotridecypoly(ethylene glycol ether)n, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamminio]-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS), 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamminio]-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPSO), or N-dodecyl═N,N-diethyl-3-ammonio-1-propane sulfonate.

In various embodiments of the above assay methods of the present invention, it may be desirable to immobilize NPFF2 (or a NPFF2 target molecule) to facilitate separation of complexed from uncomplexed forms of one or both of the proteins, as well as to accommodate automation of the assay. Binding of a test compound to NPFF2, or interaction of NPFF2 with a target molecule in the presence and absence of a candidate compound, can be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants. Examples of such vessels include microtitre plates, test tubes, and micro-centrifuge tubes.. In one embodiment, a fusion protein can be provided which adds a domain that allows one or both of the proteins to be bound to a matrix. For example, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins or glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical; St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtitre plates, which are then combined with the test compound or the test compound and either the non-adsorbed target protein or NPFF2, and the mixture incubated under conditions conducive to complex formation (e.g., at physiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, the beads or microtitre plate wells are washed to remove any unbound components and complex formation is measured either directly or indirectly, for example, as described above. Alternatively, the complexes can be dissociated from the matrix, and the level of binding or activity of NPFF2 can be determined using standard techniques.

Other techniques for immobilizing proteins on matrices can also be used in the screening assays of the invention. For example, either NPFF2 or its target molecule can be immobilized utilizing conjugation of biotin and streptavidin. Biotinylated polypeptide of the invention or target molecules can be prepared from biotin-NHS (N-hydroxy-succinimide) using techniques well known in the art (e.g., biotinylation kit, Pierce Chemicals; Rockford, Ill.), and immobilized in the wells of streptavidin-coated plates (Pierce Chemical). Alternatively, antibodies reactive with NPFF2 or target molecules but which do not interfere with binding of the polypeptide of the invention to its target molecule can be derivatized to the wells of the plate, and unbound target or polypeptide of the invention trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation. Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described above for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using antibodies reactive with NPFF2 or target molecule, as well as enzyme-linked assays which rely on detecting an enzymatic activity associated with NPFF2 or target molecule.

The screening assay can also involve monitoring the expression of NPFF2. For example, regulators of expression of NPFF2. can be identified in a method in which a cell is contacted with a candidate compound and the expression of NPFF2 protein or mRNA in the cell is determined. The level of expression of NPFF2 protein or mRNA the presence of the candidate compound is compared to the level of expression of NPFF2 protein or mRNA in the absence of the candidate compound.. The candidate compound can then be identified as a regulator of expression of NPFF2 based on this comparison. For example, when expression of NPFF2 protein or mRNA protein is greater (statistically significantly greater) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as a stimulator of NPFF2 protein or mRNA expression. Alternatively, when expression of NPFF2 protein or mRNA is less (statistically significantly less) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as an inhibitor of NPFF2 protein or mRNA expression. The level of NPFF2 protein or mRNA expression in the cells can be determined by methods described below.

Binding Assays

For binding assays, the test compound is preferably a small molecule which binds to and occupies the active site of NPFF2 polypeptide, thereby making the ligand binding site inaccessible to substrate such that normal biological activity is prevented. Examples of such small molecules include, but are not limited to, small peptides or peptide-like molecules. Potential ligands which bind to a polypeptide of the invention include, but are not limited to, the natural ligands of known NPFF2 GPCRs and analogues or derivatives thereof.

In binding assays, either the test compound or the NPFF2 polypeptide can comprise a detectable label, such as a fluorescent, radioisotopic, chemiluminescent, or enzymatic label, such as horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or luciferase. Detection of a test compound which is bound to NPFF2 polypeptide can then be accomplished, for example, by direct counting of radioemmission, by scintillation counting, or by determining conversion of an appropriate substrate to a detectable product. Alternatively, binding of a test compound to a NPFF2 polypeptide can be determined without labeling either of the interactants. For example, a microphysiometer can be used to detect binding of a test compound with a NPFF2 polypeptide. A micro-physiometer (e.g., Cytosensor™) is an analytical instrument that measures the rate at which a cell acidifies its environment using a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). Changes in this acidification rate can be used as an indicator of the interaction between a test compound and NPFF2 [Haseloff, (1988)].

Determining the ability of a test compound to bind to NPFF2 also can be accomplished using a technology such as real-time Bimolecular Interaction Analysis (BIA) [McConnell, (1992); Sjolander, (1991)]. BIA is a technology for studying bio-specific interactions in real time, without labeling any of the interactants (e.g., BIAcore™). Changes in the optical phenomenon surface plasmon resonance (SPR) can be used as an indication of real-time reactions between biological molecules.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a NPFF2-like polypeptide can be used as a “bait protein” in a two-hybrid assay or three-hybrid assay [Szabo, (1995); U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317), to identify other proteins which bind to or interact with NPFF2 and modulate its activity.

The two-hybrid system is based on the modular nature of most transcription factors, which consist of separable DNA-binding and activation domains. Briefly, the assay utilizes two different DNA constructs. For example, in one construct, polynucleotide encoding NPFF2 can be fused to a polynucleotide encoding the DNA binding domain of a known transcription factor (e.g., GAL-4). In the other construct a DNA sequence that encodes an unidentified protein (“prey” or “sample”) can be fused to a polynucleotide that codes for the activation domain of the known transcription factor. If the “bait” and the “prey” proteins are able to interact in vivo to form an protein-dependent complex, the DNA-binding and activation domains of the transcription factor are brought into close proximity. This proximity allows transcription of a reporter gene (e.g., LacZ), which is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory site responsive to the transcription factor. Expression of the reporter gene can be detected, and cell colonies containing the functional transcription factor can be isolated and used to obtain the DNA sequence encoding the protein which interacts with NPFF2.

It may be desirable to immobilize either the NPFF2 (or polynucleotide) or the test compound to facilitate separation of the bound form from unbound forms of one or both of the interactants, as well as to accommodate automation of the assay. Thus, either the NPFF2-like polypeptide (or polynucleotide) or the test compound can be bound to a solid support. Suitable solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass or plastic slides, tissue culture plates, microtiter wells, tubes, silicon chips, or particles such as beads (including, but not limited to, latex, polystyrene, or glass beads). Any method known in the art can be used to attach NPFF2-like polypeptide (or polynucleotide) or test compound to a solid support, including use of covalent and non-covalent linkages, passive absorption, or pairs of binding moieties attached respectively to the polypeptide (or polynucleotide) or test compound and the solid support. Test compounds are preferably bound to the solid support in an array, so that the location of individual test compounds can be tracked. Binding of a test compound to NPFF2 (or a polynucleotide encoding for NPFF2) can be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants. Examples of such vessels include microtiter plates, test tubes, and microcentrifuge tubes.

In one embodiment, NPFF2 is a fusion protein comprising a domain that allows binding of NPFF2 to a solid support For example, glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtiter plates, which are then combined with the test compound or the test compound and the non-adsorbed NPFF2; the mixture is then incubated under conditions conducive to complex formation (e.g., at physiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, the beads or microtiter plate wells are washed to remove any unbound components. Binding of the interactants can be determined either directly or indirectly, as described above. Alternatively, the complexes can be dissociated from the solid support before binding is determined.

Other techniques for immobilizing proteins or polynucleotides on a solid support also can be used in the screening assays of the invention. For example, either NPFF2 (or a polynucleotide encoding NPFF2) or a test compound can be immobilized utilizing conjugation of biotin and streptavidin. Biotinylated NPFF2 (or a polynucleotide encoding biotinylated NPFF2) or test compounds can be prepared from biotin-NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) using techniques well known in the art (e.g., biotinylation kit, Pierce Chemicals, Rockford, Ill.) and immobilized in the wells of streptavidin-coated plates (Pierce Chemical). Alternatively, antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2, polynucleotide, or a test compound, but which do not interfere with a desired binding site, such as the active site of NPFF2, can be derivatized to the wells of the plate. Unbound target or protein can be trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation.

Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described above for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using antibodies which specifically bind to NPFF2 polypeptide or test compound, enzyme-linked assays which rely on detecting an activity of NPFF2 polypeptide, and SDS gel electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions.

Screening for test compounds which bind to a NPFF2 polypeptide or polynucleotide also can be carried out in an intact cell. Any cell which comprises a NPFF2 polypeptide or polynucleotide can be used in a cell-based assay system. A NPFF2 polynucleotide can be naturally occurring in the cell or can be introduced using techniques such as those described above. Binding of the test compound to NPFF2 or a polynucleotide encoding NPFF2 is determined as described above.

Functional Assays

Test compounds can be tested for the ability to increase or decease NPFF2 activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide. The NPFF2 activity can be measured, for example, using methods described in the specific examples, below. NPFF2 activity can be measured after contacting either a purified NPFF2, a cell membrane preparation, or an intact cell with a test compound. A test compound which decreases NPFF2 activity by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% is identified as a potential agent for decreasing NPFF2 activity. A test compound which increases NPFF2 activity by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% is identified as a potential agent for increasing NPFF2 activity.

One such screening procedure involves the use of melanophores which are transfected to express NPFF2. Such a screening technique is described in PCT WO 92/01810 published Feb. 6, 1992. Thus, for example, such an assay may be employed for screening for a compound which inhibits activation of the receptor polypeptide of the present invention by contacting the melanophore cells which encode the receptor with both the receptor ligand and a compound to be screened. Inhibition of the signal generated by the ligand indicates that a compound is a potential antagonist for the receptor, i.e., inhibits activation of the receptor. The screen may be employed for identifying a compound which activates the receptor by contacting such cells with compounds to be screened and determining whether each compound generates a signal, i.e., activates the receptor.

Other screening techniques include the use of cells which express NPFF2 (for example, transfected CHO cells) in a system which measures extracellular pH changes caused by receptor activation [Iwabuchi, (1993)]. For example, compounds may be contacted with a cell which expresses the receptor polypeptide of the present invention and a second messenger response, e.g., signal transduction or pH changes, can be measured to determine whether the potential compound activates or inhibits the receptor. Another such screening technique involves introducing RNA encoding NPFF2 into Xenopus oocytes to transiently express the receptor. The receptor oocytes can then be contacted with the receptor ligand and a compound to be screened, followed by detection of inhibition or activation of a calcium signal in the case of screening for compounds which are thought to inhibit activation of the receptor.

Another screening technique involves expressing NPFF2 in cells in which the receptor is linked to a phospholipase C or D. Such cells include endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, embryonic kidney cells, etc. The screening may be accomplished as described above by quantifying the degree of activation of the receptor from changes in the phospholipase activity.

Gene Expression

In another embodiment, test compounds which: increase or decrease NPFF2 gene expression are identified. As used herein, the term “correlates with expression of a polynucleotide” indicates that the detection of the presence of nucleic acids, the same or related to a nucleic acid sequence encoding NPFF2, by northern analysis or relatime PCR is indicative of the presence of nucleic acids encoding NPFF2 in a sample, and thereby correlates with expression of the transcript from the polynucleotide encoding NPFF2. The term “microarray”, as used herein, refers to an array of distinct polynucleotides or oligonucleotides arrayed on a substrate, such as paper, nylon or any other type of membrane, filter, chip, glass slide, or any other suitable solid support. A NPFF2 polynucleotide is contacted with a test compound, and the expression of an RNA or polypeptide product of NPFF2 polynucleotide is determined. The level of expression of appropriate mRNA or polypeptide in the presence of the test compound is compared to the level of expression of mRNA or polypeptide in the absence of the test compound. The test compound can then be identified as a regulator of expression based on this comparison. For example, when expression of mRNA or polypeptide is greater in the presence of the test compound than in its absence, the test compound is identified as a stimulator or enhancer of the mRNA or polypeptide expression. Alternatively, when expression of the mRNA or polypeptide is less in the presence of the test compound than in its absence, the test compound is identified as an inhibitor of the mRNA or polypeptide expression.

The level of NPFF2 mRNA or polypeptide expression in the cells can be determined by methods well known in the art for detecting mRNA or polypeptide. Either qualitative or quantitative methods can be used. The presence of polypeptide products of NPFF2 polynucleotide can be determined, for example, using a variety of techniques known in the art, including immunochemical methods such as radio-immunoassay, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Alternatively, polypeptide synthesis can be determined in vivo, in a cell culture, or in an in vitro translation system by detecting incorporation of labelled amino acids into NPFF2.

Such screening can be carried out either in a cell-free assay system or in an intact cell. Any cell which expresses NPFF2 polynucleotide can be used in a cell-based assay system. The NPFF2 polynucleotide can be naturally occurring in the cell or can be introduced using techniques such as those described above. Either a primary culture or an established cell line can be used.

Test Compounds

Suitable test compounds for use in the screening assays of the invention can be obtained from any suitable source, e.g., conventional compound libraries. The test compounds can also be obtained using any of the numerous approaches in combinatorial library methods known in the art, including: biological libraries; spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phase libraries; synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution; the “one-bead one-compound” library method; and synthetic library methods using affinity chromatography selection. The biological library approach is limited to peptide libraries, while the other four approaches are applicable to peptide, non-peptide oligomer or small molecule libraries of compounds [Lam, (1997)]. Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries can be found in the art. Libraries of compounds may be presented in solution or on beads, bacteria, spores, plasmids or phage.

Modeling of Regulators

Computer modeling and searching technologies permit identification of compounds, or the improvement of already identified compounds, that can modulate NPFF2 expression or activity. Having identified such a compound or composition, the active sites or regions are identified. Such active sites might typically be ligand binding sites, such as the interaction domain of the ligand with NPFF2. The active site can be identified using methods known in the art including, for example, from the amino acid sequences of peptides, from the nucleotide sequences of nucleic acids, or from study of complexes of the relevant compound or composition with its natural ligand. In the latter case, chemical or X-ray crystallographic methods can be used to find the active site by finding where on the factor the complexed ligand is found.

Next, the three dimensional geometric structure of the active site is determined. This can be done by known methods, including X-ray crystallography, which can determine a complete molecular structure. On the other hand, solid or liquid phase NMR can be used to determine certain intramolecular distances. Any other experimental method of structure determination can be used to obtain partial or complete geometric structures. The geometric structures may be measured with a complexed ligand, natural or artificial, which may increase the accuracy of the active site structure determined.

If an incomplete or insufficiently accurate structure is determined, the methods of computer based numerical modeling can be used to complete the structure or improve its accuracy. Any recognized modeling method may be used, including parameterized models specific to particular biopolymers such as proteins or nucleic acids, molecular dynamics models based on computing molecular motions, statistical mechanics models based on thermal ensembles, or combined models. For most types of models, standard molecular force fields, representing the forces between constituent atoms and groups, are necessary, and can be selected from force fields known in physical chemistry. The incomplete or less accurate experimental structures can serve as constraints on the complete and more accurate structures computed by these modeling methods.

Finally, having determined the structure of the active site, either experimentally, by modeling, or by a combination, candidate modulating compounds can be identified by searching databases containing compounds along with information on their molecular structure. Such a search seeks compounds having structures that match the determined active site structure and that interact with the groups defining the active site. Such a search can be manual, but is preferably computer assisted. These compounds found from this search are potential NPFF2 modulating compounds.

Alternatively, these methods can be used to identify improved modulating compounds from an already known modulating compound or ligand. The composition of the known compound can be modified and the structural effects of modification can be determined using the experimental and computer modeling methods described above applied to the new composition. The altered structure is then compared to the active site structure of the compound to determine if an improved fit or interaction results. In this manner systematic variations in composition, such as by varying side groups, can be quickly evaluated to obtain modified modulating compounds or ligands of improved specificity or activity.

Therapeutic Indications and Methods

It was found by the present applicant that NPFF2 is expressed in various human tissues.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders

CNS disorders include disorders of the central nervous system as well as disorders of the peripheral nervous system.

CNS disorders include, but are not limited to brain injuries, cerebrovascular diseases and their consequences, Parkinson's disease, corticobasal degeneration, motor neuron. disease, dementia, including ALS, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, post-stroke, post-traumatic brain injury, and small-vessel cerebrovascular disease. Dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, frontotemporal dementias, including Pick's disease, progressive nuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Huntington's disease, thalamic degeneration, Creutzfeld-Jakob dementia, HV dementia, schizophrenia with dementia, and Korsakoff's psychosis, within the meaning of the definition are also considered to be CNS disorders.

Similarly, cognitive-related disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment, age-associated memory impairment, age-related cognitive decline, vascular cognitive impairment, attention deficit disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and memory disturbances in children with learning disabilities are also considered to be CNS disorders.

Pain, within the meaning of this definition, is also considered to be a CNS disorder. Pain can be associated with CNS disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, sciatica, failed back surgery syndrome, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, post-stroke, and vascular lesions in the brain and spinal cord (e.g., infarct, hemorrhage, vascular malformation). Non-central neuropathic pain includes that associated with post mastectomy pain, phantom feeling, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), trigeminal neuralgiaradioculopathy, post-surgical pain, HIV/AIDS related pain, cancer pain, metabolic neuropathies (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, vasculitic neuropathy secondary to connective tissue disease), paraneoplastic polyneuropathy associated, for example, with carcinoma of lung, or leukemia, or lymphoma, or carcinoma of prostate, colon or stomach, trigeminal neuralgia, cranial neuralgias, and post-herpetic neuralgia. Pain associated with peripheral nerve damage, central pain (i.e. due to cerebral ischemia) and various chronic pain i.e., lumbago, back pain (low back pain), inflammatory and/or rheumatic pain. Headache pain (for example, migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and other migraine disorders), episodic and chronic tension-type headache, tension-type like headache, cluster headache, and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania are also CNS disorders.

Visceral pain such as pancreatits, intestinal cystitis, dysmenorrhea, irritable Bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, biliary colic, ureteral colic, myocardial infarction and pain syndromes of the pelvic cavity, e.g., vulvodynia, orchialgia, urethral syndrome and protatodynia are also CNS disorders.

Also considered to be a disorder of the nervous system are acute pain, for example postoperative pain, and pain after trauma.

NPFF2 is highly expressed in various brain tissues such as cerebellum (total, right, left), frontal lobe in the state of Alzheimer, parietal lobe, postcentral gyros, cerebral menignes, thalamus, dorsal root ganglia and retina. The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association of NPFF2 with nervous system diseases. NPPF2 can be used to treat or to diagnose nervous system diseases.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Heart failure is defined as a pathophysiological state in which an abnormality of cardiac function is responsible for the failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirement of the metabolizing tissue. It includes all forms of pumping failures such as high-output and low-output, acute and chronic, right-sided or left-sided, systolic or diastolic, independent of the underlying cause.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is generally caused by an abrupt decrease in coronary blood flow that follows a thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery previously narrowed by arteriosclerosis. MI prophylaxis (primary and secondary prevention) is included as well as the acute treatment of MI and the prevention of complications.

Ischemic diseases are conditions in which the coronary flow is restricted resulting in a perfusion which is inadequate to meet the myocardial requirement for oxygen. This group of diseases includes stable angina, unstable angina and asymptomatic ischemia.

Arrhythmias include all forms of atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrio-ventricular reentrant tachycardia, preexitation syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular flutter, ventricular fibrillation, as well as bradycardic forms of arrhythmias.

Hypertensive vascular diseases include primary as well as all kinds of secondary arterial hypertension, renal, endocrine, neurogenic, others. The genes may be used as drug targets for the treatment of hypertension as well as for the prevention of all complications arising from cardiovascular diseases.

Peripheral vascular diseases are defined as vascular diseases in which arterial and/or venous flow is reduced resulting in an imbalance between blood supply and tissue oxygen demand. It includes chronic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), acute arterial thrombosis and embolism, inflammatory vascular disorders, Raynaud's phenomenon and venous disorders.

Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease in which the vessel wall is remodeled, compromising the lumen of the vessel. The atherosclerotic remodeling process involves accumulation of cells, both smooth muscle cells and monocyte/macrophage inflammatory cells, in the intima of the vessel wall. These cells take up lipid, like from the circulation, to form a mature atherosclerotic lesion. Although the formation of these lesions is a chronic process, occurring over decades of an adult human life, the majority of the morbidity associated with atherosclerosis occurs when a lesion ruptures, releasing thrombogenic debris that rapidly occludes the artery. When such an acute event occurs in the coronary artery, myocardial infarction can ensue, and in the worst case, can result in death.

The formation of the atherosclerotic lesion can be considered to occur in five overlapping stages such as migration, lipid accumulation, recruitment of inflammatory cells, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and extracellular matrix deposition. Each of these processes can be shown to occur in man and in animal models of atherosclerosis, but the relative contribution of each to the pathology and clinical significance of the lesion is unclear.

Thus, a need exists for therapeutic methods and agents to treat cardiovascular pathologies, such as atherosclerosis and other conditions related to coronary artery disease.

Cardiovascular diseases include but are not limited to disorders of the heart and the vascular system like congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemic diseases of the heart, all kinds of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, hypertensive vascular diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, and atherosclerosis.

NPFF2 is highly expressed in different cardiovascular related tissues such as heart, aorta, sclerotic aorta, and vein. Expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between NPFF2 and cardiovascular diseases. NPFF2 can be regulated to treat or to diagnose cardiovascular diseases.

Hematological Disorders

Hematological disorders comprise diseases of the blood and all its constituents as well as diseases of organs and tissues involved in the generation or degradation of all the constituents of the blood. They include but are not limited to 1) Anemias, 2) Myeloproliferative Disorders, 3) Hemorrhagic Disorders, 4) Leukopenia, 5) Eosinophilic Disorders, 6) Leukemias, 7) Lymphomas, 8) Plasma Cell Dyscrasias, 9) Disorders of the Spleen in the course of hematological disorders. Disorders according to 1) include, but are not limited to anemias due to defective or deficient hem synthesis, deficient erythropoiesis. Disorders according to 2) include, but are not limited to polycythemia vera, tumor-associated erythrocytosis, myelofibrosis, thrombocythemia. Disorders according to 3) include, but are not limited to vasculitis, thrombocytopenia, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, hereditary and acquired disorders of platelet function, hereditary coagulation disorders. Disorders according to 4) include, but are not limited to neutropenia, lymphocytopenia Disorders according to 5) include, but are not limited to hypereosinophilia, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Disorders according to 6) include, but are not limited to acute myeloic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myclodysplastic syndrome. Disorders according to 7) include, but are not limited to Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, mycosis fungoides cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Disorders according to 8) include, but are not limited to multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia, heavy chain diseases. In extension of the preceding idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency), aplastic anemia, thalassemia, malignant lymphoma bone marrow invasion, malignant lymphoma skin invasion, hemolytic uremic syndrome, giant platelet disease are considered to be hematological diseases too.

NPFF2 is highly expressed in erythrocytes and other tissues of the hematological system. The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between NPFF2 and hematological diseases. NPFF2 can be regulated in order to treat or to diagnose hematological disorders.

Asthma and COPD Disorders

Asthma is thought to arise as a result of interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors and is characterized by three major features: 1) intermittent and reversible airway obstruction caused by bronchoconstriction, increased mucus production, and thickening of the walls of the airways that leads to a narrowing of the airways, 2) airway hyperresponsiveness, and 3) airway inflammation. Certain cells are critical to the inflammatory reaction of asthma and they include T cells and antigen presenting cells, B cells that produce IgE, and mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, and other cells that bind IgE. These effector cells accumulate at the site of allergic reaction in the airways and release toxic products that contribute to the acute pathology and eventually to tissue destruction related to the disorder. Other resident cells, such as smooth muscle cells, lung epithelial cells, mucus-producing cells, and nerve cells may also be abnormal in individuals with asthma and may contribute to its pathology. While the airway obstruction of asthma, presenting clinically as an intermittent wheeze and shortness of breath, is generally the most pressing symptom of the disease requiring immediate treatment, the inflammation and tissue destruction associated with the disease can lead to irreversible changes that eventually make asthma a chronic and disabling disorder requiring long-term management.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary (or airways) disease (COPD) is a condition defined physiologically as airflow obstruction that generally results from a mixture of emphysema and peripheral airway obstruction due to chronic bronchitis [Botstein, 1980]. Emphysema is characterised by destruction of alveolar walls leading to abnormal enlargement of the air spaces of the lung. Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically as the presence of chronic productive cough for three months in each of two successive years. In COPD, airflow obstruction is usually progressive and is only partially reversible. By far the most important risk factor for development of COPD is cigarette smoking, although the disease does also occur in non-smokers.

NPFF2 is highly expressed in respiratory tissues and lung in the state of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The expression of NPFF2 in COPD affected lung is higher than in healthy lung. The expression of NPFF2 in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between NPFF2 and respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD, and therapeutic regulation of the NPPF2 receptor can be used to treat disorders of the respiratory system.

Genitourological Disorders

Genitourological disorders comprise benign and malign disorders of the organs constituting the genitourological system of female and male, renal diseases like acute or chronic renal failure, immunologically mediated renal diseases like renal transplant rejection, lupus nephritis, immune complex renal diseases, glomerulopathies, nephritis, toxic nephropathy, obstructive uropathies like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), neurogenic bladder syndrome, urinary incontinence like urge-, stress-, or overflow incontinence, pelvic pain, and erectile dysfunction.

The receptor is highly expressed in different genito-urological tissues such as penis and in prostate in the state of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and placenta. The expression of NPFF2 in BPH is higher than in a healthy prostate.

The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between NPFF2 and genito-urological diseases. NPFF2 can be regulated to treat disorders of the genito-urological system. Genito-urological disorders which may be treated include, but are not limited to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Applications

The present invention provides for both prophylactic and therapeutic methods for hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genitourological disorders.

The regulatory method of the invention involves contacting a cell with an agent that modulates one or more of the activities of NPFF2. An agent that modulates activity can be an agent as described herein, such as a nucleic acid or a protein, a naturally-occurring cognate ligand of the polypeptide, a peptide, a peptidomimetic, or any small molecule. In one embodiment, the agent stimulates one or more of the biological activities of NPFF2. Examples of such stimulatory agents include the active NPFF2 and nucleic acid molecules encoding a portion of NPFF2. In another embodiment, the agent inhibits one or more of the biological activities of NPFF2. Examples of such inhibitory agents include antisense nucleic acid molecules and antibodies. These regulatory methods can be performed in vitro (e.g., by culturing the cell with the agent) or, alternatively, in vivo (e.g., by administering the agent to a subject). As such, the present invention provides methods of treating an individual afflicted with a disease or disorder characterized by unwanted expression or activity of NPFF2 or a protein in the NPFF2 signaling pathway. In one embodiment, the method involves administering an agent like any agent identified or being identifiable by a screening assay as described herein, or combination of such agents that modulate say upregulate or downregulate the expression or activity of NPFF2 or of any protein in the NPFF2 signaling pathway. In another embodiment, the method involves administering a regulator of NPFF2 as therapy to compensate for reduced or undesirably low expression or activity of NPFF2 or a protein in the NPFF2 signaling pathway.

Stimulation of activity or expression of NPFF2 is desirable in situations in which activity or expression is abnormally low and in which increased activity is likely to have a beneficial effect. Conversely, inhibition of activity or expression of NPFF2 is desirable in situations in which activity or expression of NPFF2 is abnormally high and in which decreasing its activity is likely to have a beneficial effect.

This invention is fierier illustrated by the following examples which should not be construed as limiting. The contents of all references, patents and published patent applications cited throughout this application are hereby incorporated by reference.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

This invention further pertains to novel agents identified by the above-described screening assays and uses thereof for treatments as described herein.

The nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, and antibodies (also referred to herein as “active compounds”) of the invention can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration. Such compositions typically comprise the nucleic acid molecule, protein, or antibody and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein the language “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is intended to include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions.

The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising a regulator of NPFF2 expression or activity (and/or a regulator of the activity or expression of a protein in the NPFF2 signaling pathway) as well as methods for preparing such compositions by combining one or more such regulators and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also within the invention are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a regulator identified using the screening assays of the invention packaged with instructions for use. For regulators that are antagonists of NPFF2 activity or which reduce NPFF2 expression, the instructions would specify use of the pharmaceutical composition for treatment of hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases. For regulators that are agonists of NPFF2 activity or increase NPFF2 expression, the instructions would specify use of the pharmaceutical composition for treatment of hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases.

An antagonist of NPFF2 may be produced using methods which are generally known in the art. In particular, purified NPFF2 may be used to produce antibodies or to screen libraries of pharmaceutical agents to identify those which specifically bind NPFF2. Antibodies to NPFF2 may also be generated using methods that are well known in the art. Such antibodies may include; but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, and fragments produced by a Fab expression library. Neutralizing antibodies like those which inhibit dimer formation are especially preferred for therapeutic use.

In another embodiment of the invention, the polynucleotides encoding NPFF2, or any fragment or complement thereof, may be used for therapeutic purposes. In one aspect, the complement of the polynucleotide encoding NPFF2 may be used in situations in which it would be desirable to block the transcription of the mRNA. In particular, cells may be transformed with sequences complementary to polynucleotides encoding NPFF2. Thus, complementary molecules or fragments may be used to modulate NPFF2 activity, or to achieve regulation of gene function. Such technology is now well known in the art, and sense or antisense oligonucleotides or larger fragments can be designed from various locations along the coding or control regions of sequences encoding NPFF2.

Expression vectors derived from retroviruses, adenoviruses, or herpes or vaccinia viruses, or from various bacterial plasmids, may be used for delivery of nucleotide sequences to the targeted organ, tissue, or cell population. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct vectors which will express nucleic acid sequence complementary to the polynucleotides of the gene encoding NPFF2. These techniques are described, for example, in [Scott and Smith (1990) Science 249:386-390].

Any of the therapeutic methods described above may be applied to any subject in need of such therapy, including, for example, mammals such as dogs, cats, cows, horses, rabbits, monkeys, and most preferably, humans.

An additional embodiment of the invention relates to the administration of a pharmaceutical composition containing NPFF2 in conjunction with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for any of the therapeutic effects discussed above. Such pharmaceutical compositions may consist of NPFF2; antibodies to NPFF2, and mimetics, agonists, antagonists, or inhibitors of NPFF2. The compositions may be administered alone or in combination with at least one other agent, such as a stabilizing compound, which may be administered in any sterile, biocompatible pharmaceutical carrier including, but not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, and water. The compositions may be administered to a patient alone, or in combination with other agents, drugs or hormones.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to be compatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of routes of administration include parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal, subcutaneous, oral (e.g., inhalation), transdermal (topical), transmucosal, and rectal administration. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous application can include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid; buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. pH can be adjusted with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. The parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. For intravenous administration, suitable carriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, Cremophor EM™ (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In all cases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, a pharmaceutically acceptable polyol like glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid polyetheylene glycol, and suitable mixtures thereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, sodium chloride in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent which delays absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin. Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the active compound (e.g., a polypeptide or antibody) in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositions can also be prepared using a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash, wherein the compound in the fluid carrier is applied orally and swished and expectorated or swallowed.

Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of the composition. The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or sterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

For administration by inhalation, the compounds are delivered in the form of an aerosol spray from a pressurized container or dispenser which contains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or a nebulizer.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, and fusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can be accomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. For transdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g., with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and other glycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems. Bio-degradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially from Alza Corporation and Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions (including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonal antibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811.

It is especially advantageous to formulate oral or parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of individuals.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a container, pack, or dispenser together with instructions for administration. For pharmaceutical compositions which include an antagonist of NPFF2 activity, a compound which reduces expression of NPFF2, or a compound which reduces expression or activity of a protein in the NPFF2 signaling pathway or any combination thereof, the instructions for administration will specify use of the composition for hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases. For pharmaceutical compositions which include an agonist of NPFF2 activity, a compound which increases expression of NPFF2, or a compound which increases expression or activity of a protein in the NPFF2 signaling pathway or any combination thereof, the instructions for administration will specify use of the composition for hematological and cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, COPD, asthma, genito-urological disorders and inflammation diseases.

Diagnostics

In another embodiment, antibodies which specifically bind NPFF2 may be used for the diagnosis of disorders characterized by the expression of NPFF2, or in assays to monitor patients being treated with NPFF2 or agonists, antagonists, and inhibitors of NPFF2. Antibodies useful for diagnostic purposes may be prepared in the same manner as those described above for therapeutics. Diagnostic assays for NPFF2 include methods which utilize the antibody and a label to detect NPFF2 in human body fluids or in extracts of cells or tissues. The antibodies may be used with or without modification, and may be labeled by covalent or non-covalent joining with a reporter molecule. A wide variety of reporter molecules, several of which are described above, are known in the art and may be used.

A variety of protocols for measuring NPFF2, including ELISAs, RIAs, and FACS, are known in the art and provide a basis for diagnosing altered or abnormal levels of NPFF2 expression. Normal or standard values for NPFF2 expression are established by combining body fluids or cell extracts taken from normal mammalian subjects, preferably human, with antibody to NPFF2 under conditions suitable for complex formation The amount of standard complex formation may be quantified by various methods, preferably by photometric means. Quantities of NPFF2 expressed in subject samples from biopsied tissues are compared with the standard values. Deviation between standard and subject values establishes the parameters for diagnosing disease.

In another embodiment of the invention, the polynucleotides encoding NPFF2 may be used for diagnostic purposes. The polynucleotides which may be used include oligonucleotide sequences, complementary RNA and DNA molecules, and PNAs. The polynucleotides may be used to detect and quantitate gene expression in biopsied tissues in which expression of NPFF2 may be correlated with disease. The diagnostic assay may be used to distinguish between absence, presence, and excess expression of NPFF2, and to monitor regulation of NPFF2 levels during therapeutic intervention.

Polynucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2 may be used for the diagnosis of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders associated with expression of NPFF2. The polynucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2 may be used in Southern, Northern, or dot-blot analysis, or other membrane-based technologies; in PCR technologies; in dipstick, pin, and ELISA assays; and in microarrays utilizing fluids or tissues from patient biopsies to detect altered NPFF2 expression Such qualitative or quantitative methods are well known in the art.

In a particular aspect, the nucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2 may be useful in assays that detect the presence of associated disorders, particularly those mentioned above. The nucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2 may be labelled by standard methods and added to a fluid or tissue sample from a patient under conditions suitable for the formation of hybridization complexes. After a suitable incubation period, the sample is washed and the signal is quantitated and compared with a standard value. If the amount of signal in the patient sample is significantly altered from that of a comparable control sample, the nucleotide sequences have hybridized with nucleotide sequences in the sample, and the presence of altered levels of nucleotide sequences encoding NPFF2 in the sample indicates the presence of the associated disorder. Such assays may also be used to evaluate the efficacy of a particular therapeutic treatment regimen in animal studies, in clinical trials, or in monitoring the treatment of an individual patient.

In order to provide a basis for the diagnosis of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders associated with expression of NPFF2, a normal or standard profile for expression is established. This may be accomplished by combining body fluids or cell extracts taken from normal subjects, either animal or human, with a sequence, or a fragment thereof, encoding NPFF2, under conditions suitable for hybridization or amplification. Standard hybridization may be quantified by comparing the values obtained from normal subjects with values from an experiment in which a known amount of a substantially purified polynucleotide is used. Standard values obtained from normal samples may be compared with values obtained from samples from patients who are symptomatic for a disorder. Deviation from standard values is used to establish the presence of a disorder.

Another technique for drug screening which may be used provides for high throughput screening of compounds having suitable binding affinity to the protein of interest as described in published PCT application WO84/03564. In this method, large numbers of different small test compounds are synthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The test compounds are reacted with NPFF2, or fragments thereof, and washed. Bound NPFF2 is then detected by methods well known in the art. Purified NPFF2 can also be coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drug screening techniques. Alternatively, non-neutralizing antibodies can be used to capture the peptide and immobilize it on a solid support.

In another embodiment, one may use competitive drug screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding NPFF2 specifically compete with a testcompound for binding NPFF2. In this manner, antibodies can be used to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or more antigenic determinants with NPFF2.

G-protein coupled receptors are ubiquitous in the mammalian host and are responsible for many biological functions, including many pathologies. Accordingly, it is desirable to find compounds and drugs which stimulate a G-protein coupled receptor on the one hand and which can inhibit the function of a G-protein coupled receptor on the other hand. For example, compounds which activate the G-protein coupled receptor may be employed for therapeutic purposes, such as the treatment of asthma, Parkinson's disease, acute heart failure, urinary retention, and osteoporosis. In particular, compounds which activate the receptors of the present invention are useful in treating various cardiovascular ailments such as caused by the lack of pulmonary blood flow or hypertension. In addition these compounds may also be used in treating various physiological disorders relating to abnormal control of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and in diseases associated with abnormal angiotensin-induced aldosterone secretion.

In general, compounds which inhibit activation of the G-protein coupled receptor may be employed for a variety of therapeutic purposes, for example, for the treatment of hypotension and/or hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, ulcers, asthma, allergies, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and psychotic and neurological disorders including schizophrenia, manic excitement, depression, delirium, dementia or severe mental retardation, dyskinesias, such as Huntington's disease or Tourett's syndrome, among others. Compounds which inhibit G-protein coupled receptors have also been useful in reversing endogenous anorexia and in the control of bulimia

Determination of a Therapeutically Effective Dose

The determination of a therapeutically effective dose is well within the capability of those skilled in the art. A therapeutically effective dose refers to that amount of active ingredient which increases or decreases NPFF2 activity relative to NPFF2 activity which occurs in the absence of the therapeutically effective dose. For any compound, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially either in cell culture assays or in animal models, usually mice, rabbits, dogs, or pigs. The animal model also can be used to determine the appropriate concentration range and route of administration. Such information can then be used to determine useful doses and routes for administration in humans.

Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity, e.g., ED₅₀ (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) and LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of the population), can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals. The dose ratio of toxic to therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index, and it can be expressed as the ratio, LD₅₀/ED₅₀. Pharmaceutical compositions which exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal studies is used in formulating a range of dosage for human use. The dosage contained in such compositions is preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage varies within this range depending upon the dosage form employed, sensitivity of the patient, and the route of administration. The exact dosage will be determined by the practitioner, in light of factors related to the subject that requires treatment. Dosage and administration are adjusted to provide sufficient levels of the active ingredient or to maintain the desired effect. Factors which can be taken into account include the severity of the disease state, general health of the subject, age, weight, and gender of the subject, diet, time and frequency of administration, drug combination(s), reaction sensitivities, and tolerance/response to therapy. Long-acting pharmaceutical compositions can be administered every 3 to 4 days, every week, or once every two weeks depending on the half-life and clearance rate of the particular formulation.

Normal dosage amounts can vary from 0.1 micrograms to 100,000 micrograms, up to a total dose of about 1 g, depending upon the route of administration. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the literature and generally available to practitioners in the art. Those skilled in the art will employ different formulations for nucleotides than for proteins or their inhibitors. Similarly, delivery of polynucleotides or polypeptides will be specific to particular cells, conditions, locations, etc. If the reagent is a single-chain antibody, polynucleotides encoding the antibody can be constructed and introduced into a cell either ex vivo or in vivo using well-established techniques including, but not limited to, transferrin-polycation-mediated DNA transfer, transfection with naked or encapsulated nucleic acids, liposome-mediated cellular fusion, intracellular transportation of DNA-coated latex beads, protoplast fusion, viral infection, electroporation, “gene gun”, and DEAE- or calcium phosphate-mediated transfection.

If the expression product is mRNA, the reagent is preferably an antisense oligo-nucleotide or a ribozyme. Polynucleotides which express antisense oligonucleotides or ribozymes can be introduced into cells by a variety of methods, as described above. Preferably, a reagent reduces expression of NPFF2 gene or the activity of NPFF2 by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% relative to the absence of the reagent. The effectiveness of the mechanism chosen to decrease the level of expression of NPFF2 gene or the activity of NPFF2 can be assessed using methods well known in the art, such as hybridization of nucleotide probes to NPFF2-specific mRNA, quantitative RT-PCR, immunologic detection of NPFF2, or measurement of NPFF2 activity.

In any of the embodiments described above, any of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be administered in combination with other appropriate therapeutic agents. Selection of the appropriate agents for use in combination therapy can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art, according to conventional pharmaceutical principles. The combination of therapeutic agents can act synergistically to effect the treatment or prevention of the various disorders described above. Using this approach, one may be able to achieve therapeutic efficacy with lower dosages of each agent, thus reducing the potential for adverse side effects. Any of the therapeutic methods described above can be applied to any subject in need of such therapy, including, for example, mammals such as dogs, cats, cows, horses, rabbits, monkeys, and most preferably, humans.

Nucleic acid molecules of the invention are those nucleic acid molecules which are contained in a group of nucleic acid molecules consisting of (i) nucleic acid molecules encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, (ii) nucleic acid molecules comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, (iii) nucleic acid molecules having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, (iv) nucleic acid molecules the complementary strand of which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule of (i), (ii), or (iii); and (v) nucleic acid molecules the sequence of which differs from the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of (iii) due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, wherein the polypeptide encoded by said nucleic acid molecule has NPFF2 activity.

Polypeptides of the invention are those polypeptides which are contained in a group of polypeptides consisting of (i) polypeptides having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, (ii) polypeptides comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, (iii) polypeptides encoded by nucleic acid molecules of the invention and (iv) polypeptides which show at least 99%, 98%, 95%, 90%, or 80% homology with a polypeptide of (i), (ii), or (iii), wherein said purified polypeptide has NPFF2 activity.

An object of the invention is a method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of (i) contacting a test compound with a NPFF2 polypeptide, (ii) detect binding of said test compound to said NPFF2 polypeptide. E.g., compounds that bind to the NPFF2 polypeptide are identified potential, therapeutic agents for such a disease.

Another object of the invention is a method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of (i) determining the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide at a certain concentration of a test compound or in the absence of said test compound, (ii) determining the activity of said polypeptide at a different concentration of said test compound. E.g., compounds that lead to a difference in the activity of the NPFF2 polypeptide in (i) and (ii) are identified potential therapeutic agents for such a disease.

Another object of the invention is a method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of (i) determining the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide at a certain concentration of a test compound, (ii) determining the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide at the presence of a compound known to be a regulator of a NPFF2 polypeptide. E.g., compounds that show similar effects on the activity of the NPFF2 polypeptide in (i) as compared to compounds used in (ii) are identified potential therapeutic agents for such a disease.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the step of contacting is in or at the surface of a cell.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the cell is in vitro.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the step of contacting is in a cell-free system.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the polypeptide is coupled to a detectable label.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the compound is coupled to a detectable label.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the test compound displaces a ligand which is first bound to the polypeptide.

Other objects of the invention are-methods of the above, wherein the polypeptide is attached to a solid support.

Other objects of the invention are methods of the above, wherein the compound is attached to a solid support.

Another object of the invention is a method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of (i) contacting a test compound with a NPFF2 polynucleotide, (ii) detect binding of said test compound to said NPFF2 polynucleotide. Compounds that, e.g., bind to the NPFF2 polynucleotide are potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of such diseases.

Another object of the invention is the method of the above, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is RNA.

Another object of the invention is a method of the above, wherein the contacting step is in or at the surface of a cell.

Another object of the invention is a method of the above, wherein the contacting step is in a cell-free system.

Another object of the invention is a method of the above, wherein the polynucleotide is coupled to a detectable label.

Another object of the invention is a method of the above, wherein the test compound is coupled to a detectable label.

Another object of the invention is a method of diagnosing a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of (i) determining the amount of a NPFF2 polynucleotide in a sample taken from said mammal, (ii) determining the amount of NPFF2 polynucleotide in healthy and/or diseased mammal. A disease is diagnosed, e.g., if there is a substantial similarity in the amount of NPFF2 polynucleotide in said test mammal as compared to a diseased mammal.

Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a therapeutic agent which binds to a NPFF2 polypeptide.

Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a therapeutic agent which regulates the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide.

Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a therapeutic agent which regulates the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide, wherein said therapeutic agent is (i) a small molecule, (ii) an RNA molecule, (iii) an antisense oligonucleotide, (iv) a polypeptide, (v) an antibody, or (vi) a ribozyme.

Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a NPFF2 polynucleotide.

Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a NPFF2 polypeptide.

Another object of the invention is the use of regulators of a NPFF2 for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal.

Another object of the invention is a method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical, composition useful for the treatment of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of (i) identifying a regulator of NPFF2, (ii) determining whether said regulator ameliorates the symptoms of a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal; and (iii) combining of said regulator with an acceptable pharmaceutical carrier.

Another object of the invention is the use of a regulator of NPFF2 for the regulation of NPFF2 activity in a mammal having a disease comprised in a group of diseases consisting of hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, and genito-urological disorders.

The examples below are provided to illustrate the subject invention. These examples are provided by way of illustration and are not included for the purpose of limiting the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Search for Homologous Sequences in Public Sequence Data Bases

The degree of homology can readily be calculated by known methods. Preferred methods to determine homology are designed to give the largest match between the sequences tested. Methods to determine homology are codified in publicly available computer programs such as BestFit, BLASTP, BLASIN, and FASTA. The BLAST programs are publicly available from NCBI and other sources in the internet.

For NPFF2 the following hits to known sequences were identified by using the BLAST algorithm [Altschul S F, Madden T L, Schaffer A A, Zhang I, Zhang Z, Miller W, Lipman D J; Nucleic Acids Res 1997 Sep. 1; 25(17): 3389-402] and the following set of parameters: matrix=BLOSUM62 and low complexity filter. The following databases were searched: NCBI (non-redundant database) and DERWENT patent. database (Geneseq).

The following hits were found: >ref|NM_004885.1| Homo sapiens neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptor; neuropeptide FF 2 (NPGPR), mRNA, Length = 1936, Score = 3838 bits (1936), Expect = 0.0, Identities = 1936/1936 (100%), frame: +1 >gb|AF119815.1|AF119815 Homo sapiens G-protein coupled receptor (NPGPR) mRNA, complete cds, Length = 1936, Score = 3838 bits (1936), Expect = 0.0, Identities = 1936/1936 (100%), frame: +1 >gb|AF257210.1|AF257210 Homo sapiens G-protein coupled receptor HLWAR77 mRNA, complete cds, Length = 1560, Score = 3001 bits (1514), Expect = 0.0, Identities = 1520/1522 (99%) >gb|AF268899.1|AF268899 Homo sapiens neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFF2) mRNA, complete cds, Length = 1263, Score = 2488 bits (1255), Expect = 0.0 Identities = 1261/1263 (99%), frame: +1 >gb|AF268900.1|AF268900 Rattus norvegicus neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFF2) mRNA, complete cds, Length = 1254, Score = 557 bits (281), Expect = e−156, Identities = 608/717 (84%), frame: +1

Example 2 Expression Profiling

Total cellular RNA was isolated from cells by one of two standard methods: 1) guanidine isothiocyanate/Cesium chloride density gradient centrifigation [Kellogg, (1990)]; or with the Tri-Reagent protocol according to the manufacturer's specifications (Molecular Research Center, Inc., Cincinatti, Ohio). Total RNA prepared by the Tri-reagent protocol was treated with DNAse I to remove genomic DNA contamination.

For relative quantitation of the mRNA distribution of NPFF2, total RNA from each cell or tissue source was first reverse transcribed. 85 μg of total RNA was reverse transcribed using 1 μmole random hexamer primers, 0.5 mM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), 3000 U RnaseQut (Ivitrogen, Groningen, Netherlands) in a final volume of 680 μl. The first strand synthesis buffer and Omniscript reverse transcriptase (2 μ/μl) were from (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The reaction was incubated at 37° C. for 90 minutes and cooled on ice.

The volume was adjusted to 6800 μl with water, yielding a final concentration of 12.5 ng/μl of starting RNA.

For relative quantitation of the distribution of NPFF2 mRNA in cells and tissues the Perkin Elmer ABI Prism RTM. 7700 Sequence Detection system or Biorad iCycler was used according to the manufacturer's specifications and protocols. PCR reactions were set up to quantitate NPFF2 and the housekeeping genes HPRT (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase), GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), β-actin, and others. Forward and reverse primers and probes for NPFF2 were designed using the Perkin Elmer ABI Primer Express™ software and were synthesized by TibMolBiol (Berlin, Germany). The NPFF2 forward primer sequence was: Primer1 (SEQ ID NO: 3). The NPFF2 reverse primer sequence was Primer2 (SEQ ID NO: 5). Probel (SEQ ID NO: 4), labelled with FAM (carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester) as the reporter dye and TAMRA (carboxytetramethylrhodamine) as the quencher, is used as a probe for NPFF2. The following reagents were prepared in a total of 25 μl: 1×TaqMan buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl 200 nM of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dUTP, 0.025 U/μl AmpliTaq Gold™, 0.01 U/μl AmpErase and Probe1 (SEQ ID NO: 4), NPFF2 forward and reverse primers each at 200 nM, 200 nM NPFF2 FAM/TAMRA-labelled probe, and 5 μl of template cDNA. Thermal cycling parameters were 2 min at 50° C., followed by 10 min at 95° C., followed by 40 cycles of melting at 95° C. for 15 sec and annealing/extending at 60° C. for 1 min.

Calculation of Corrected CT Values

The CT (threshold cycle) value is calculated as described in the “Quantitative determination of nucleic acids” section. The CF-value (factor for threshold cycle correction) is calculated as follows:

-   -   1. PCR reactions were set up to quantitate the housekeeping         genes (HKG) for each cDNA sample.     -   2. CT_(HKG)-values (threshold cycle for housekeeping gene) were         calculated as described in the “Quantitative determination of         nucleic acids” section.     -   3. CT_(HKG)-mean values (CT mean value of all HKG tested on one         cDNAs) of all HKG for each cDNA are calculated (n=number of         HKG):         CT _(HKG-n)-mean value=(CT _(HKG1)-value+CT _(HKG2)-value+. .         .+CT _(HKG-n)-value)/n     -   4. CT_(pannel) mean value (CT mean value of all HKG in all         tested cDNAs)=         (CT _(HKG1)-mean value+CT _(HKG2)-mean value+. . .+CT         _(HKG-y)-mean value)/y (y=number of cDNAs)     -   5. CF_(cDNA-n) (correction factor for cDNA n)=CT_(pannel)-mean         value−CT_(HKG-a)-mean value     -   6. CT_(cDNA-n) (CT value of the tested gene for the cDNA         n)+CF_(cDNA-n) (correction factor for cDNA n)=CT_(cor-cDNA-n)         (corrected CT value for a gene on cDNA n)         Calculation of Relative Expression         Definition: highest CT_(cor-cDNA-n)≠40 is defined as         CT_(cor-cDNA [high])         Relative Expression=2^((CTcor-cDNA[high]−CTcor-cDNA-n))         Tissues

The expression of NPFF2 was investigated in the following tissues: brain, total Alzeimer brain, fetal brain, cerebral cortex, frontal lobe, Alzheimer brain frontal lobe, cerebellum, cerebellum (right), cerebellum (left), tonsilla cerebelli, precentral gyrus, hippocampus, occipital lobe, cerebral peduncles, postcentral gyrus, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, cerebral meninges, pons, corpus callosum, vermis cerebelli, spinal cord, thalamus, dorsal root ganglia, retina, heart, fetal heart, interventricular septum, heart atrium (right), heart atrium (left), heart ventricle (left), pericardium, peripheral blood, erythrocyte, aorta, aorta sclerotic, artery, vein, coronary smooth muscle cells, HUVEC cells, thyroid, thyroid tumor, spleen, spleen liver cirrhosis, thymus, bone marrow, lymphnode, Jukat T-cells, thrombocytes, lung, fetal lung, lung tumor, lung COPD, liver, fetal liver, liver liver cirrhosis, HEP G2 cells, pancreas, pancreas liver cirrhosis, stomach, small intestine, colon, colon tumor, rectum, ileum chronic inflammation, esophagus, kidney, fetal kddney, HEK 293 cells, skeletal muscle, cervix, HeLa cells, breast, breast tumor mammary gland, MDA MB 231 cells, testis, penis, corpus cavernosum, trachea, adrenal gland, salivary gland, skin, bladder, prostata, prostate BPH, placenta, uterus, adipose

Expression Profile

The results of the mRNA-quantification (expression profiling) is shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Relative expression of NPFF2 in various human tissues Tissue Relative Expression brain 3.39 total Alzheimer brain 186.50 fetal brain 1.32 cerebral cortex 261.56 frontal lobe 97.30 Alzheimer brain frontal lobe 1808.19 cerebellum 3.02 cerebellum (right) 950.80 cerebellum (left) 781.26 tonsilla cerebelli 63.48 precentral gyrus 427.71 hippocampus 395.45 occipital lobe 141.42 cerebral peduncles 25.24 postcentral gyrus 3422.89 temporal lobe 126.53 parietal lobe 1322.45 cerebral meninges 1616.88 pons 15.53 corpus callosum 100.55 vermis cerebelli 66.53 spinal cord 1.00 thalamus 991.29 dorsal root ganglia 897.23 retina 938.36 heart 1.47 fetal heart 0.00 interventricular septum 0.00 heart atrium (right) 110.00 heart atrium (left) 221.09 heart ventricle (left) 94.41 pericardium 50.45 peripheral blood 1.82 erythrocyte 1151.93 aorta 890.11 aorta sclerotic 142.21 artery 361.04 vein 27.01 coronary smooth muscle cells 10.15 HUVEC cells 20.67 thyroid 9.40 thyroid tumor 6.21 spleen 9.79 spleen liver cirrhosis 0.00 thymus 133.02 bone marrow 0.00 lymphnode 205.86 Jurkat T-cells 14.69 thrombocytes 270.22 lung 0.00 fetal lung 2.72 lung tumor 190.86 lung COPD 748.83 liver 0.00 fetal liver 1.01 liver liver cirrhosis 34.86 HEP G2 cells 34.59 pancreas 0.00 pancreas liver cirrhosis 0.00 stomach 0.00 small intestine 1.44 colon 0.00 colon tumor 17.43 rectum 289.42 ileum chronic inflammation 0.00 esophagus 547.73 kidney 3.40 fetal kidney 30.31 HEK 293 cells 15.93 skeletal muscle 3.12 cervix 0.00 HeLa cells 0.00 breast 0.00 breast tumor 90.60 mammary gland 2.42 MDA MB 231 cells 5.01 testis 3.72 penis 665.52 corpus cavernosum 47.26 trachea 0.00 adrenal gland 0.00 salivary gland 0.00 skin 59.45 bladder 38.90 prostata 19.42 prostate BPH 325.42 placenta 2138.18 uterus 3.02 adipose 0.00

Example 3 Antisense Analysis

Knowledge of the correct, complete cDNA sequence coding for NPFF2 enables its use as a tool for antisense technology in the investigation of gene function. Oligo-nucleotides, cDNA or genomic fragments comprising the antisense strand of a polynucleotide coding for NPFF2 are used either in vitro or in vivo to inhibit translation of the mRNA. Such technology is now well known in the art, and anti-sense molecules can be designed at various locations along the nucleotide sequences. By treatment of cells or whole test animals with such antisense sequences, the gene of interest is effectively turned off. Frequently, the function of the gene is ascertained by observing behavior at the intracellular, cellular, tissue or organismal level (e.g., lethality, loss of differentiated function, changes in morphology, etc.).

In addition to using sequences constructed to interrupt transcription of a particular open reading frame, modifications of gene expression is obtained by designing antisense sequences to intron regions, promoter/enhancer elements, or even to transacting regulatory genes.

Example 4 Expression of NPFF2

Expression of NPFF2 is accomplished by subcloning the cDNAs into appropriate expression vectors and transfecting the vectors into expression hosts such as, e.g., E. coli. In a particular case, the vector is engineered such that it contains a promoter for β-galactosidase, upstream of the cloning site, followed by sequence containing the amino-terminal Methionine and the subsequent seven residues of β-galactosidase. Immediately following these eight residues is an engineered bacteriophage promoter useful for artificial priming and transcription and for providing a number of unique endonuclease restriction sites for cloning.

Induction of the isolated, transfected bacterial strain with Isopropyl-β-D-thiogalacto-pyranoside (IPTG) using standard methods produces a fusion protein corresponding to the first seven residues of β-galactosidase, about 15 residues of “linker”, and the peptide encoded within the cDNA. Since cDNA clone inserts are generated by an essentially random process, there is probability of 33% that the included cDNA will lie in the correct reading frame for proper translation. If the cDNA is not in the proper reading frame, it is obtained by deletion or insertion of the appropriate number of bases using well known methods including in vitro mutagenesis, digestion with exonuclease III or mung bean nuclease, or the inclusion of an oligonucleotide linker of appropriate length.

The NPFF2 cDNA is shuttled into other vectors known to be useful for expression of proteins in specific hosts. Oligonucleotide primers containing cloning sites as well as a segment of DNA (about 25 bases) sufficient to hybridize to stretches at both ends of the target cDNA is synthesized chemically by standard methods. These primers are then used to amplify the desired gene segment by PCR. The resulting gene segment is digested with appropriate restriction enzymes under standard conditions and isolated by gel electrophoresis. Alternately, similar gene segments are produced by digestion of the cDNA with appropriate restriction enzymes. Using appropriate primers, segments of coding sequence from more than one gene are ligated together and cloned in appropriate vectors. It is possible to optimize expression by construction of such chimeric sequences.

Suitable expression hosts for such chimeric molecules include, but are not limited to, mammalian cells such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) and human 293 cells., insect cells such as Sf9 cells, yeast cells such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and bacterial cells such as E. coli. For each of these cell systems, a useful expression vector also includes an origin of replication to allow propagation in bacteria, and a selectable marker such as the β-lactamase antibiotic resistance gene to allow plasmid selection in bacteria. In addition, the vector may include a second selectable marker such as the neomycin phosphotransferase gene to allow selection in transfected eukaryotic host cells. Vectors for use in eukaxyotic expression hosts require RNA processing elements such as 3′ polyadenylation sequences if such are not part of the cDNA of interest.

Additionally, the vector contains promoters or enhancers which increase gene expression Such promoters are host specific and include MMTV, SV40, and metallothionine promoters for CHO cells; trp, lac, tac and T7 promoters for bacterial hosts; and alpha factor, alcohol oxidase and PGH promoters for yeast. Transcription enhancers, such as the rous sarcoma virus enhancer, are used in mammalian host cells. Once homogeneous cultures of recombinant cells are obtained through standard culture methods, large quantities of recombinantly produced NPFF2 are, recovered from the conditioned medium and analyzed using chromatographic methods known in the art. For example, NPFF2 can be cloned into the expression vector pcDNA3, as exemplified herein. This product can be used to transform, for example, HEK293 or COS by methodology standard in the art. Specifically, for example, using Lipofectamine (Gibco BRL catolog no. 18324-020) mediated gene transfer.

Example 5 Isolation of Recombinant NPFF2

NPFF2 is expressed as a chimeric protein with one or more additional polypeptide domains added to facilitate protein purification. Such purification facilitating domains include, but are not limited to, metal chelating peptides such as histidine-tryptophan modules that allow purification on immobilized metals [Appa Rao, 1997] and the domain utilized in the FLAGS extension/affinity purification system (Immunex Corp., Seattle, Wash.). The inclusion of a cleavable linker sequence such as Factor Xa or enterokinase (nvitrogen, Groningen, The Netherlands) between the purification domain and the NPFF2 sequence is useful to facilitate expression of NPFF2.

Example 6 Testing of Chimeric GPCRs

Functional chimeric GPCRs are constructed by combining the extracellular receptive sequences of a new isoform with the transmembrane and intracellular segments of a known isoform for test purposes. This concept was demonstrated by Kobilka et al. (1988), Science 240:1310-1316) who created a series of chimeric α2-β2 adrenergic receptors (AR) by inserting progressively greater amounts of α2-AR transmembrane sequence into β2-AR. The binding activity of known agonists changed as the molecule shifted from having more α2 than β2 conformation, and intermediate constructs demonstrated mixed specificity. The specificity for binding antagonists, however, correlated with the source of the domain VII. The importance of T7G domain VII for ligand recognition was also found in chimeras utilizing two yeast α-factor receptors and is significant because the yeast receptors are classified as miscellaneous receptors. Thus, functional role of specific domains appears to be preserved throughout the GPCR family regardless of category.

In parallel fashion, internal segments or cytoplasmic domains from a particular isoform are exchanged with the analogous domains of a known GPCRs and used to identify the structural determinants responsible for coupling the receptors to trimeric G-proteins. A chimeric receptor in which domains V, VI, and the intracellular connecting loop from β2-AR were substituted into α2-AR was shown to bind ligands with α2-AR specificity, but to stimulate adenylate cyclase in the manner of β2-AR. This demonstrates that for adrenergic-type receptors, G-protein recognition is present in domains V and VI and their connecting loop. The opposite situation was predicted and observed for a chimera in which the V−>VI loop from α1-AR replaced the corresponding domain on β2-AR and the resulting receptor bound ligands with β2-AR specificity and activated G-protein-mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover in the α1-AR manner. Finally, chimeras constructed from muscarinic receptors also demonstrated that V−>VI loop is the major determinant for specificity of G-protein activity.

Chimeric or modified GPCRs containing substitutions in the extracellular and transmembrane regions have shown that these portions of the receptor determine ligand binding specificity. For example, two Serine residues conserved in domain V of all adrenergic and D catecholainine GPCRs are necessary for potent agonist activity. These serines are believed to form hydrogen bonds with the catechol moiety of the agonists within the GPCR binding site. Similarly, an Asp residue present in domain III of all GPCRs which bind biogenic amines is believed to form an ion pair with the ligand amine group in the GPCR binding site.

Functional, cloned GPCRs are expressed in heterologous expression systems and their biological activity assessed. One heterologous system introduces genes for a mammalian GPCR and a mammalian G-protein into yeast cells. The GPCR is shown to have appropriate ligand specificity and affinity and trigger appropriate biological activation (growth arrest and morphological changes) of the yeast cells.

An alternate procedure for testing chimeric receptors is based on the procedure utilizing the purinergic receptor (P₂u). Function is easily tested in cultured K562 human leukemia cells because these cells lack P₂u receptors. K562 cells are transfected with expression vectors containing either normal or chimeric P₂u and loaded wit fara-a, fluorescent probe for Ca⁺⁺. Activation of properly assembled and functional P₂u receptors with extracellular UTP or ATP mobilizes intracellular Ca⁺⁺ which reacts with fura-a and is measured spectrofluorometrically.

As with the GPCRs above, chimeric genes are created by combining sequences for extracellular receptive segments of any new GPCR polypeptide with the nucleotides for the transmembrane and intracellular segments of the known P₂u molecule. Bathing the transfected K562 cells in microwells containing appropriate ligands triggers binding and fluorescent activity defining effectors of the GPCR molecule. Once ligand and function are established, the P₂u system is useful for defining antagonists or inhibitors which block binding and prevent such fluorescent reactions.

Example 7 Production of NPFF2 Specific Antibodies

Two approaches are utilized to raise antibodies to NPFF2, and each approach is useful for generating either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. In one approach, denatured protein from reverse phase HPLC separation is obtained in quantities up to 75 mg. This denatured protein is used to immunize mice or rabbits using standard protocols; about 100 μg are adequate for immunization of a mouse, while up to 1 mg might be used to immunize a rabbit. For identifying mouse hybridomas, the denatured protein is radioiodinated and used to sen potential murine B-cell hybridomas for those which produce antibody. This procedure requires only small quantities of protein, such that 20 mg is sufficient for labeling and screening of several thousand clones.

In the second approach, the amino acid sequence of an appropriate NPFF2 domain, as deduced from translation of the cDNA, is analyzed to determine regions of high antigenicity. Oligopeptides comprising appropriate hydrophilic regions are synthesized and used in suitable immunization protocols to raise antibodies. The optimal amino acid sequences for immunization are usually at the C-terminus, the N-terminus and those intervening, hydrophilic regions of the polypeptide which are likely to be exposed to the external environment when the protein is in its natural conformation.

Typically, selected peptides, about 15 residues in length, are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems Peptide Synthesizer Model 431A using fmoc-chemistry and coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH; Sigina, St. Louis, Mo.) by reaction with M-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, MBS. If necessary, a cysteine is introduced at the N-terminus of the peptide to permit coupling to KLH. Rabbits are immunized with the peptide-KLH complex in complete Freund's adjuvant. The resulting antisera are tested for antipeptide activity by binding the peptide to plastic, blocking with 1% bovine serum albumin, reacting with antisera, washing and reacting with labeled (radioactive or fluorescent), affinity purified, specific goat anti-rabbit IgG.

Hybridomas are prepared and screened using standard techniques. Hybridomas of interest are detected by screening with labeled NPFF2 to identify those fusions producing the monoclonal antibody with the desired specificity. In a typical protocol, wells of plates (FAST; Becton-Dickinson, Palo Alto, Calif.) are coated during incubation with affinity purified, specific rabbit anti-mouse (or suitable antispecies 1 g) antibodies at 10 mg/ml. The coated wells are blocked with 1% bovine serum albumin, (BSA), washed and incubated with supernatants from hybridomas. After washing the wells are incubated with labeled NPFF2 at 1 mg/ml. Supernatants with specific antibodies bind more labeled NPFF2 than is detectable in the background. Then clones producing specific antibodies are expanded and subjected to two cycles of cloning at limiting dilution. Cloned hybridomas are injected into pristane-treated mice to produce ascites, and monoclonal antibody is purified from mouse ascitic fluid by affinity chromatography on Protein A. Monoclonal antibodies with affinities of at least

10⁸ M⁻¹, preferably 10⁹ to 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ or stronger, are typically made by standard procedures.

Example 8 Diagnostic Test Using NPFF2 Specific Antibodies

Particular NPFF2 antibodies are useful for investigating signal transduction and the diagnosis of infectious or hereditary conditions which are characterized by differences in the amount or distribution of NPFF2 or downstream products of an active signaling cascade.

Diagnostic tests for NPFF2 include methods utilizing antibody and a label to detect NPFF2 in human body fluids, membranes, cells, tissues or extracts of such. The polypeptides and antibodies of the present invention are used with or without modification. Frequently, the polypeptides and antibodies are labeled by joining them, either covalently or noncovalently, with a substance which provides for a detectable signal. A wide variety of labels and conjugation techniques are known and have been reported extensively in both the scientific and patent literature. Suitable labels include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent agents, chemiluminescent agents, chromogenic agents, magnetic particles and the like.

A variety of protocols for measuring soluble or membrane-bound NPFF2, using either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies specific for the protein, are known in the art. Examples include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). A two-site monoclonal-based immunoassay utilizing monoclonal antibodies reactive to two non-interfering epitopes on NPFF2 is preferred, but a competitive binding assay may be employed.

Example 9 Purification of Native NPFF2 Using Specific Antibodies

Native or recombinant NPFF2 is purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using antibodies specific for NPFF2. In general, an immunoaffinity column is constructed by covalently coupling the anti-TRH antibody to an activated chromatographic resin.

Polyclonal immunoglobulins are prepared from immune sera either by precipitation with ammonium sulfate or by purification on immobilized Protein A (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Piscataway N.J.). Likewise, monoclonal antibodies are prepared from mouse ascites fluid by ammonium sulfate precipitation or chromatography on immobilized Protein A. Partially purified immunoglobulin is covalently attached to a chromatographic resin such as CnBr-activated Sepharose (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology). The antibody is coupled to the resin, the resin is blocked, and the derivative resin is washed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Such immunoaffinity columns are utilized in the purification of NPFF2 by preparing a fraction from cells containing NPFF2 in a soluble form. This preparation is derived by solubilization of whole cells or of a subcellular faction obtained via differential centrifugation (with or without addition of detergent) or by other methods well known in the art. Alternatively, soluble NPFF2 containing a signal sequence is secreted in useful quantity into the medium in which the cells are grown.

A soluble NPFF2-containing preparation is passed over the immunoaffinity column, and the column is washed under conditions that allow the preferential absorbance of NPFF2 (e.g., high ionic strength buffers in the presence of detergent). Then, the column is eluted under conditions that disrupt antibody/protein binding (e.g., a buffer of pH 2-3 or a high concentration of a chaotrope such as urea or thiocyanate ion), and NPFF2 is collected.

Example 10 Drug Screening

This invention is particularly useful for screening therapeutic compounds by using NPFF2 or binding fragments thereof in any of a variety of drug screening techniques. As NPFF2 is a G protein coupled receptor any of the methods commonly used in the art may potentially be used to identify NPFF2 ligands. For example, the activity of a G protein coupled receptor such as NPFF2 can be measured using any of a variety of appropriate functional assays in which activation of the receptor results in an observable change in the level of some second messenger system, such as adenylate cyclase, guanylylcyclase, calcium mobilization, or inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. Alternatively, the polypeptide or fragment employed in such a test is either free in solution, affixed to a solid support, borne on a cell surface or located intracellularly. One method of drug screening utilizes eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells which are stably transformed with recombinant nucleic acids expressing the polypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screened against such transformed cells in competitive binding assays. Such cells, either in viable or fixed form, are used for standard binding assays.

Measured, for example, is the formation of complexes between NPFF2 and the agent being tested. Alternatively, one examines the diminution in complex formation between NPFF2 and a ligand caused by the agent being tested.

Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening for drug canditates, drugs, or any other agents which affect signal transduction. These methods, well known in the art, comprise contacting such an agent with NPFF2 polypeptide or a fragment thereof and assaying (i) for the presence of a complex between the agent and NPFF2 polypeptide or fragment, or (ii) for the presence of a complex between NPFF2 polypeptide or fragment and the cell. In such competitive binding assays, the NPFF2 polypeptide or fragment is typically labeled. After suitable incubation, free NPFF2. polypeptide or fragment is separated from that present in bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexed label is a measure of the ability of the particular agent to bind to NPFF2 or to interfere with the NPFF2-agent complex.

Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screening for compounds having suitable binding affinity to NPFF2 polypeptides. Briefly stated, large numbers of different small peptide test compounds are synthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The peptide test compounds are reacted with NPFF2 polypeptide and washed. Bound NPFF2 polypeptide is then detected by methods well known in the art Purified NPFF2 are also coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drug screening techniques. In addition, non-neutralizing antibodies are used to capture the peptide and immobilize it on the solid support.

This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding NPFF2 specifically compete with a test compound for binding to NPFF2 polypeptides or fragments thereof. In this manner, the antibodies are used to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or more antigenic determinants with NPFF2.

Example 11 Rational Drug Design

The goal of rational drug design is to produce structural analogs of biologically active polypeptides of interest or of small molecules with which they interact, agonists, antagonists, or inhibitors. Any of these examples are used to fashion drugs which are more active or stable forms of the polypeptide or which enhance or interfere with the function of a polypeptide in vivo.

In one approach, the three-dimensional structure of a protein of interest, or of a protein-inhibitor complex, is determined by x-ray crystallography, by computer modeling or, most typically, by a combination of the two approaches. Both the shape and charges of the polypeptide must be ascertained to elucidate the structure and to determine active site(s) of the molecule. Less often, useful information, regarding the structure of a polypeptide is gained by modeling based on the structure of homologous proteins. In both cases, relevant structural information is used to design efficient inhibitors. Useful examples of rational drug design include molecules which have improved activity or stability or which act as inhibitors, agonists, or antagonists of native peptides.

It is also possible to isolate a target-specific antibody, selected by functional assay, as described above, and then to solve its crystal structure. This approach, in principle, yields a pharmacore upon which subsequent drug design is based. It is possible to bypass protein crystallography altogether by generating anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-ids) to a functional, pharmacologically active antibody. As a mirror image of a mirror image, the binding site of the anti-ids is expected to be an analog of the original receptor. The anti-id is then used to identify and isolate peptides from banks of chemically or biologically produced peptides. The isolated peptides then act as the pharmacore.

By virtue of the present invention, sufficient amount of polypeptide are made available to perform such analytical studies as X-ray crystallography. In addition, knowledge of the NPFF2 amino acid sequence provided herein provides guidance to those employing computer modeling techniques in place of or in addition to x-ray crystallography.

Example 12 Identification of Other Members of the Signal Transduction Complex

The inventive purified NPFF2 is a research tool for identification, characterization and purification of interacting G or other signal transduction pathway proteins. Radioactive labels are incorporated into a selected NPFF2 domain by various methods known in the art and used in vitro to capture interacting molecules. A preferred method involves labeling the primary amino groups in NPFF2 with ¹²⁵I Bolton-Hunter reagent. This reagent has been used to label various molecules without concomitant loss of biological activity.

Labeled NPFF2 is useful as a reagent for the purification of molecules with which it interacts. In one embodiment of affinity purification, membrane-bound NPFF2 is covalently coupled to a chromatography column. Cell-free extract derived from synovial cells or putative target cells is passed over the column, and molecules with appropriate affinity bind to NPFF2. NPFF2-complex is recovered from the column, and the NPFF2-binding ligand disassociated and subjected to N-terminal protein sequencing. The amino acid sequence information is then used to identify the captured molecule or to design degenerate oligonucleotide probes for cloning the relevant gene from an appropriate cDNA library.

In an alternate method, antibodies are raised against NPFF2, specifically monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies are screened to identify those which inhibit the binding of labeled NPFF2. These monoclonal antibodies are then used therapeutically.

Example 13 Use and Administration of Antibodies, Inhibitors, or Antagonists

Antibodies, inhibitors, or antagonists of NPFF2 or other treatments and compunds that are limiters of signal transduction (LSTs), provide different effects when administered therapeutically. LSTs are formulated in a nontoxic, inert, pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier medium preferably at a pH of about 5 to 8, more preferably 6 to 8, although pH may vary according to the characteristics of the antibody, inhibitor, or antagonist being formulated and the condition to be treated. Characteristics of LSTs include solubility of the molecule, its half-life and antigenicity/immunogenicity. These and other characteristics aid in defining an effective carrier. Native human proteins are preferred as LSTs, but organic or synthetic molecules resulting from drug screens are equally effective in particular situations.

LSTs are delivered by known routes of administration including but not limited to topical creams and gels; transmucosal spray and aerosol; transdermal patch and bandage; injectable, intravenous and lavage formulations; and orally administered liquids and pills particularly formulated to resist stomach acid and enzymes. The particular formulation, exact dosage, and route of administration is determined by the attending physician and varies according to each specific situation.

Such determinations are made by considering multiple variables such as the condition to be treated, the LST to be administered, and the pharmacokinetic profile of a particular LST. Additional factors which are taken into account include severity of the disease state, patient's age, weight, gender and diet, time and frequency of LST administration, possible combination with other drugs, reaction sensitivities, and tolerance/response to therapy. Long acting LST formulations might be administered every 3 to 4 days, every week, or once every two weeks depending on half-life and clearance rate of the particular LST.

Normal dosage amounts vary from 0.1 to 10⁵ μg, up to a total dose of about 1 g, depending upon the route of administration. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the literature; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,657,760; 5,206,344; or 5,225,212. Those skilled in the art employ different formulations for different LSTs. Administration to cells such as nerve cells necessitates delivery in a manner different from that to other cells such as vascular endothelial cells.

It is contemplated that abnormal signal transduction, trauma, or diseases which trigger NPFF2 activity are treatable with LSTs. These conditions or diseases are specifically diagnosed by the tests discussed above, and such testing should be performed in suspected cases of viral, bacterial or fungal infections, allergic responses, mechanical injury associated with trauma, hereditary diseases, lymphoma or carcinoma, or other conditions which activate the genes of lymphoid or neuronal, tissues.

Example 14 Production of Non-Human Transgenic Animals

Animal model systems which elucidate the physiological and behavioral roles of the NPFF2 are produced by creating nonhuman transgenic animals in which the activity of the NPFF2 is either increased or decreased, or the amino acid sequence of the expressed NPFF2 is altered, by a variety of techniques. Examples of these techniques include, but are not limited to: 1) Insertion of normal or mutant versions of DNA encoding a NPFF2, by microinjection, electroporation, retroviral transfection or other means well known to those skilled in the art, into appropriately fertilized embryos in order to produce a transgenic animal or 2) homologous recombination of mutant or normal, human or animal versions of these genes with the native gene locus in transgenic animals to alter the regulation of expression or the structure of these NPFF sequences. The technique of homologous recombination is well known in the art. It replaces the native gene with the inserted gene and hence is useful for producing an animal that cannot express native NPFF2s but does express, for example, an inserted mutant NPFF2, which has replaced the native NPFF2 in the animal's genome by recombination, resulting in underexpression of the transporter. Microinjection adds genes to the genome, but does not remove them, and the technique is useful for producing an animal which expresses its own and added NPFF2, resulting in overexpression of the NPFF2.

One means available for producing a transgenic animal, with a mouse as an example, is as follows: Female mice are mated, and the resulting fertilized eggs are dissected out of their oviducts. The eggs are stored in an appropriate medium such as cesiumchloride M2 medium. DNA or cDNA encoding NPFF2 is purified from a vector by methods well known to the one skilled in the art. Inducible promoters may be fused with the coding region of the DNA to provide an experimental means to regulate expression of the transgene. Alternatively or in addition, tissue specific regulatory elements may be fused with the coding region to permit tissue-specific expression of the transgene. The DNA, in an appropriately buffered solution, is put into a microinjection needle (which may be made from capillary tubing using a piper puller) and the egg to be injected is put in a depression slide. The needle is inserted into the pronucleus of the egg, and the DNA solution is injected. The injected egg is then transferred into the oviduct of a pseudopregnant mouse which is a mouse stimulated by the appropriate hormones in order to maintain false pregnancy, where it proceeds to the uterus, implants, and develops to term. As noted above, micro-injection is not the only method for inserting DNA into the egg but is used here only for exemplary purposes. 

1. A method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of i) contacting a test compound with a NPFF2 polypeptide, ii) detecting binding of said test compound to said NPFF2 polypeptide.
 2. A method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of i) determining the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide at a certain concentration of a test compound or in the absence of said test compound, ii) determining the activity of said polypeptide at a different concentration of said test compound.
 3. A method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of i) determining the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide at a certain concentration of a test compound, ii) determining the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide at the presence of a compound known to be a regulator of a NPFF2 polypeptide.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting is in or at the surface of a cell.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is in vitro.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting is in a cell-free system.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is coupled to a detectable label.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is coupled to a detectable label.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the test compound displaces a ligand which is first bound to the polypeptide.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is attached to a solid support.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is attached to a solid support.
 12. A method of screening for therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of i) contacting a test compound with a NPFF2 polynucleotide, ii) detecting binding of said test compound to said NPFF2 polynucleotide.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the nucleic acid molecule is RNA.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the contacting step is in or at the surface of a cell.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the contacting step is in a cell-free system.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein polynucleotide is coupled to a detectable label.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the test compound is coupled to a detectable label.
 18. A method of diagnosing a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of i) determining the amount of a NPFF2 polynucleotide in a sample taken from said mammal, ii) determining the amount of NPFF2 polynucleotide in healthy and/or diseased mammals.
 19. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a therapeutic agent which binds to a NPFF2 polypeptide.
 20. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a therapeutic agent which regulates the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide.
 21. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a therapeutic agent which regulates the activity of a NPFF2 polypeptide, wherein said therapeutic agent is i) a small molecule, ii) an RNA molecule, iii) an antisense oligonucleotide, iv) a polypeptide, v) an antibody, or vi) a ribozyme.
 22. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a NPFF2 polynucleotide.
 23. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising a NPFF2 polypeptide.
 24. A method for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a regulator of NPFF2.
 25. Method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition useful for the treatment of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal comprising the steps of i) identifying a regulator of NPFF2, ii) determining whether said regulator ameliorates the symptoms of a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders in a mammal; and iii) combining of said regulator with an acceptable pharmaceutical carrier.
 26. A method for the regulation of NPFF2 activity in a mammal having a disease selected from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, respiratory diseases, COPD, asthma, and genito-urological disorders comprising administering to a mammal an effective amount of a regulator of NPFF2. 